SK  }3  F93  1875 


3  1822  01070  0409 


WILD  SCENES 


A   HUNTER'S   LIFE; 


OB,    TUB 


HUNTING  AND  HUNTERS  OF  ALL  NATIONS, 


INCLUDING 


CUMMING'S    AND    GIRARD'S    ADVENTURES, 

ur 
JOHN   FROST,  LL.D. 

With  Three  Hundred  Illustrations. 


BOSTON : 

LEE    AND    SHEPARD,   PUBLISHERS. 
NEW  YORK: 

LEE,  SHEPARD  a  DILLINGHAM,  49  GREENE  STREET. 

1875. 


Cr.ttrx]  Mwor^Jif  to  A.rt  of  CongTMW,  In  the  few  one  thonwuid  right 
and  flfty-flve, 

BT  MfLLEE,  ORTON  A  MULLIGAN, 
B  :*•  Clerk  s  offlefl  of  tne  Districi  r>  >urt  of  the  Northern  District  of  New  1  ortt 


PREFACE. 


TIIE  subject  of  hunting  is  one  which  has  a  peculiar 
interest  for  the  people  of  this  country.  So  large  a 
portion  of  our  territory,  even  in  the  most  thickly 
settled  States,  is  still  covered  with  forests  abounding 
in  game  and  beasts  of  the  chase,  that  almost  every 
citizen  occasionally  becomes  a  sportsman  or  a  hunter; 
and  those  who  never  engage  in  any  sport  of  the  hunt- 
ing kind,  nevertheless,  are  interested  in  the  narratives 
of  those  who  have  distinguished  themselves  in  forest 
and  field. 

The  following  pages  have  been  compiled  with  a 
view  not  only  to  gratify  curiosity  and  afford  enter- 
tainment to  the  general  reader,  but  to  furnish  useful 
information  respecting  the  natural  history  and  habits 
of  animals,  and  the  modes  practised  by  various  na- 


tions in  hunting  them. 


(3) 


4  .   'PREFACE. 

The  lively  and  graphic  narratives  of  Mr.  Gumming, 
from  which  we  have  so  freely  borrowed,  seem  to  open 
an  entirely  new  era  in  hunting.  His  astonishing 
success  in  attacking  whole  herds  of  elephants  and 
giraffes,  and  assailing  groups  of  lions  and  rhinoceroses, 
would  seem  to  establish  the  principle  that  a  bold 
front,  quick  eye,  and  unflinching  nerve,  will  enable  a 
single  man  to  hold  his  ground,  and  destroy  or  dis- 
perse a  host  of  the  fiercest  wild  beasts.  We  com- 
mend the  portions  of  this  volume  copied  from  Mr, 
Cumming's  work  to  the  special  notice  of  the  reader. 
The  narratives  may  seem  incredible;  but  we  believe 
them;  and  the  spoils  of  the  chase  brought  from 
Airica  by  this  daring  huntsman,  afford  convincing 
proofs  of  the  general  truthfulness  of  his  statements. 

The  volume  is  very  copiously  embellished,  as 
seemed  necessary  from  the  nature  of  the  subject; 
and  we  trust  that  the  delineations  of  animals  and 
birds,  as  well  as  of  hunting  scenes,  will  be  recognized 
as  true  copies  from  nature. 

Considering  the  large  amount  of  information  con- 
densed into  the  volume,  and  the  thrilling  character 
of  many  of  the  narratives  it  contains,  the  compiler 
believes  that  it  will  prove  an  acceptable  offering  to 
the  reading  public. 


CONTENTS. 


HUKT15  0  III  THE  EAST  INDIES 

TERMS  USED  a  Huimxo 
HCXTISO  nr  EKGLAJTD 
Hcimxa  THE  BADQBB 
HOXTI.VQ  THE  WILD  BOAB 
BUNTIKO  THE  BuTFALO-  •- 
Hcirrqrs  THE  CHAMOIS 
HCSTINO  THE  Fox-  — 
Btrrnna  THE  HAKE  - 


CHAPTER  I. 

CHAPTER  H. 

CHAPTER  m. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

CHAPTER  V. 

CHAPTER  VL 

CHAPTER  VIL 

•• 

CHAPTER  VIIL 

CHAPTER  IX. 

•          •      .—  .....        40 

CHAPTER  X. 

•A 

CHAPTER  XL 

CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XH. 
HUNTING  THE  STAG ••••- ^ .......  34 

CHAPTER  XTEL 
MODE  OF  HUNTING  THE  INDIAN  ANTELOPE ••  70 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
HUNTING  THE  LION  ON  HORSEBACK •» ••-• «•  II 


CHAPTER  XV. 
HCNTING  THE  MARMOT • - »..~-~.  74 

CHAPTER  XVL 
HUNTING  THE  VIRGINIAN  DEEB ~ - --•-•  7« 

CHAPTER  XVEL 
HUNTING  THE  INDIAN  RHINOCEROS -....»... »..»....»~. 81 

CHAPTER  XVIH. 
HONTING  THE  BISON «••  83 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
HUNTING  THE  POLAR  BEAR 08 

CHAPTER  XX. 

HUNTING  THE  AMERICAN  BLACK    BEAR 106 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
HUNTING  THE  LLAMA • 118 

CHAPTER  XXn. 
HUNTING  THE  REIN  DEER • 117 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
A  BISON  HUNT  OF  MR.  CATLIN  AND  MR.  CHARDON «-•••  128 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
A  BISHOP  HUNTING  THE  TIGER *..*... 1J5 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
ADVENTURES  WITH  THE  HYENAS ......„...—. 141 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
BUNTING  THE  OURANGOUTANQ •• ^-....»~ 148 

CHAPTER  XXVIL 
HUNTING  MONKEYS 154 

CHAPTER  XXVm. 
HUNTING  THE  IBEZ  •-• ~-» ~-~-  168 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
HUNTING  TM  PACA,  THI  AGOUTI,  THE  VISCACHA,  AND  THE  CHINCHILLA •  167 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
HUNTING  THB  Moora ~.~...~~*,.~~*.~~ 173 

CHAPTER  XXXT. 
HUNTING  ANTELOPES  WITH  THI  CHEETAH -~... ............................  17$ 


CHAPTER  XXXIL 
HUNTINO  THE  KANGAROO «• 


CHAPTER  XXXm. 
AFuNCH  OFFICER  HUNTING  Lioni88«fl-~~- — 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
HUNTING  THE  JAGUAR - _._.._^... ........  193 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
HURTING  THEGNOO ~~ »...-.  194 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
HUNTING  THE  OSTRICH,  THE  WILDEBEEST  AND  THE  OBTX - ».....-~.»..  207 

CHAPTER  XXXVH. 
HUNTING  THE  SPRINGBOK  AND  THE  QUAQGA 201 

CHAPTER  XXXVm. 
HUNTING  THE  AFRICAN  BUFFALO  AND  THE  PALLAH «~ 213 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
HUNTING  AND  HAWKING  IN  PERSIA - 21J 

CHAPTER  XL. 
SHOOTING  A  LION  FROM  A  WATCHING  PLACE 221 

CHAPTER  XLI. 
HUNTING  THE  LEOPARD  WITH  DOGS,  AND  ADVENTURES  WITH  BUFFALOES  AND  LIONS 230 

CHAPTER  XLII. 
Ma.  CUMKING'S  ADVENTURE  WITH  A  SNAKE 235 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 
HUNTING  THE  BLESBOK  AND  BOAR 242 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 
HUNTING  THE  HIPPOPOTAMUS *• 247 

CHAPTER  XLV. 
MR.  CUMMING'S  ADVENTURE  WITH  AN  EXTRAORDINARY  HERD  OF  BLESROKS 262 

CHAPTER  XLVI. 
HUNTING  THE  WHITE  RHINOCEROS,  LION,  BUFFALO  AND  GIRAFFE — .-.._-.. ....  267 

CHAPTER  XLVII. 
ELEPHANT  HUNTING  BY  MOONLIGHT .-„.... 287 


CHAPTER  XLVIH. 

VENTURE  WITH  A  MONSTER  LlON ~  ........... 279 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 
TOUTING  THE  BUSTARD  AND  THE  ELAND -..-..«._  283 

CHAPTER  L. 
'     VTINO  THE  GIRAFFE. — HABITS  OF  THE  ELEPHANT ~- 293 


CHAPTER  LL 

i.  GUMMING  CHASED  BY  A  RHINOCEROS 301 

CHAPTER  LH. 

lOVENTURE  WITH  ELEPHANTS. — HABITS  OF  THE  LlON • ...,„ 309 

CHAPTER-  LIU. 
iZutPHANT  HUNTING  IN  THE  EAST  INDUS -..- ...,..„ 323 

CHAPTER  LIT. 
fluNTiNG  THE  MARTEN,  SABLE,  GENET  AND  CIVET 32! 

CHAPTER  LV. 

itOLJNG,  CUTTING  UP,  COOKING  AND  EATINQ  AN  ELEPHANT .^^>...,..^ ...,.   854 


CONTEXTS. 


CHAITKR  LVI. 

HUNTING    TUB   WILD    HORSE   AND   THS    ASd      .....  .........  ........  ~  ----  *~  .......  —  •  --  340 

CHAPTER  LVI1. 
HUNTING  TH*  NIL  GHAD   THE  OCELET,  AND  THE  LYNX  .....  -~.  .-»...  .-~...  ....  —  _.™~.S5i 

CHAPTER  LVIII. 
BUNTING  THE  COUGAR  —  HUNTINO  SQUIRRELS  ----  .........  .»...,..-.-.......—  ...~~_  ----  868 

CHAFFER  LIX 

HUNTING    THE    AMERICAN    ELK   OR    WAPITI  ..............  -.,..._..  .......  „_«  ............  3<JJ 

CHAPTER  LX. 
BUNTING  THB  RACCOON,  THE  BLACK-TAILED  KEER,  AND  THE  MUSB,  Ox  ...".»..-.-—.•—  ~.37i 

CHAPTER  LX1. 
HUNTING  THE  BEATER  AUD  THE  OPOSSUM  ...............  ~  ......................  -  .~~..378 

CHAPTER  LX1I. 
BUNTING  THB  FISHER  ...........................   •••  .............................  ----  883 

CHAPTER  F.XITI. 
HUNTING  THE  AMERICAN  DEER  .........................  "~"~~  ........  •*  .....  ~.-~  .--888 

CHAPTER  LXIV. 

rfB,   CUMMINO'S   ENCOUKTER   WITH    FODB    LlONS    ----  .......  -----  ...,..«_-  ~~  .........  -----  392 

CHAPTER  LXV. 
NOCTCRNAI  ADVENTURE  WITH  six  LIONS  ............  -  ........  —  ~—  ..............  ....^.—.408 

CHAI>TER  LXVI. 

A    HARD   CHASE   OF   AJ»    ElEPHANT    ........     .................  ,....  —  .»..  -^-...  ».  .........  409 

CHAPTER  LXVIL 

RlPINO   OUT  THB   BUU.   ELEPHANT  ................  —  •  ----  .»—...—..  ....„—  ^.  ............  4]3 

CHAPTER  LXVin. 

A   MODERN   POTNAM  ..«  —  .«"-  ...........................  ^.^-..^^_  ......  ^..^  .......  403 

CHAPTER  LXIX. 

A      ION   HDNT  0!«  THB  RITBB   MARIQDA     ................  -  ........  •"•  ~"  "-»•  ««•«•  -~  .....  427 

CHAPTER  LXX. 
BIT  Vf.O  HARRIS'S  GIRAFFE  HUNT  .......   ......  ----  ~.._~_.—  .....  .-..<~~.~^  —  433 

CHAPTER  LXXI. 

A   BRU8U   WITH   *    BlSOH     •  —  ~"-  —  —  ...................  -•••  —  •*'  ......  «.»»..»»..^.....44< 

CHAPTER  LXXI1. 


C*JJU>,THB 


WILD    SCENES 

IN  A 

HUNTER'S   LIFE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HUNTING    AMONG    THE    ANCIENTS. 

UNTING,  properly  speaking,  is>  "the 
pursuit  of  four-foeted  beasts  of  game." 
"  These,"  says  an  old  writer,  "  are 
hunted  in  the  fields,  woods,  and  thick- 
ets, with  guns  and  greyhounds."  F. 
de  Launay,  professor  of  French  laws, 
has  an  express  treatise  of  hunting.  We 
find  that  among  the  earliest  civilized 
nations,  hunting  made  one  of  their  diversions  ;  and  as  to  the  wild 
^nd  barbarous,  it  supplied  them  with  focd.  The  Reman  jurispru- 
...ence,  which  was  formed  on  the  manners  of  the  first  ages,  estub 

9 


10  HUNTING    ADVENTURES 


lished  it  as  a  law,  that  as  the  natural  right  of  things  which  have 
no  master  belongs  to  the  first  possessor,  wild  beasts,  birds,  and 
fishes,  are  the  property  of  those  who  can  take  them  first.  But 
the  northern  barbarians,  A'ho  over-ran  the  Roman  empire,  bringing 
with  them  a  stronger  taste  for  the  diversion,  and  the  people  being 
now  possessed  of  other  and  more  easy  means  of  subsistence,  from 
the  lands' and  possessions  of  these  they  had  vanquished,  their  chiefs 
began  to  appropriate  the  right  of  hunting,  and,  instead  of  a 
natural  right,  to  make  it  a  royal  one.  Thus  rt  continues  to  this 
day ;  the  right  of  hunting  in  the  Old  World  belonging  only  to  the 
king,  an  1  those  who  derive  it  from  him.  In  America  we  have  a 
better  fashion. 

The  hunting  used  by  the  ancients  was  much  like  that  now 
practised  for  the  reindeer,  which  is  seldom  hunted  at  force,  or 
with  hounds ;  but  only  drawn  with  a  blood  hound,  and  taken  with 
nets  and  engines.  Thus  did  they  with  all  beasts ;  whence  a  dog 
was  never  commended  by  them  for  opening,  before  he  has  dis- 
covered where  the  beast  lies.  Hence,  they  were  not  curious  as 
to  the  music  of  their  hounds,  or  the  composition  of  their  pack,  for 
deepness,  loudness,  or  sweetness  of  cry,  which  are  principal  points 
in  trodern  hunting.  Their  huntsmen,  indeed,  were  accustomed 
to  shout  and  make  a  great  noise,  as  Virgil  observes  in  his  third 
book  of  Georgics,  verse  413. 

"  Ingentem  clamore  premes  ad  retia  cervum." 

But  that  confusion  was  only  to  bring  the  deer  to  the  nets  laid  foi 
him.  The  Sicilian  mode  of  hunting  had  something  in  it  very  ex- 
traordinary. The  gentry  being  informed  which  way  a  herd  of  deer 
passed,  gave  notice  to  one  another,  and  appointed  a  meeting ;  every 
one  bringing  with  him  a  cross-bow  or  long-bow,  and  a  bundle  of 
staves  shod  with  iron,  the  heads  bored,  with  a  cord  passing  througD 
them  all :  thus  provided,  they  come  to  the  herd,  and  casting  them- 
selves about  in  a  large  ring,  surrounded  the  deer;  Then  each 
taking  his  stand,  unbound  his  fagot,  set  up  his  stake,  and  tie ' 
.he  end  of  the  cord  to  that  of  his  next  neighbor,  ten  feet  fron: 
each  other.  Then  taking  feathers,  dyed  in  crimson,  and  fastened 
on  a  thread,  they  tied  them  to  the  cord ;  so  that  with  the  least 


HUNTING   AMONG   THE   ANCIENTS. 


il 


A   HERD   OF   DEER. 

breath  of  wind  they  would  whirl  round.  Those  who  kept  /he 
stands  then  withdrew,  and  hid  themselves  in  the  next  covert. 
Then  the  chief  ranger  entering  within  the  line,  with  hounds  to 
draw  after  the  herd,  roused  the  game  with  their  cry ;  which,  fly- 
ing towards  the  line,  were  turned  off,  and  still  gazing  on  the  shak- 
ing and  shining  feathers,  wandered  about  as  if  kept  in  with  a 
real  wall.  The  ranger  still  pursued,  and  calling  every  person 
by  name  as  he  passed  by  their  stand,  commanded  him  to  shooi 
the  first,  thiid,  or  sixth,  as  he  pleased :  and  if  any  of  them  missed 
or  singled  out  another  than  that  assigned  him,  it  was  counted  a 
grievous  disgrace.  By  such  means,  as  they  passed  by  the  several 
stations,  the  whole  herd  was  killed  by  the  several  hands. 

Hunting  formed  the  chief  employment  of  the  ancient  Germans, 
and  probably  of  the  Britons  also,  when  not  engaged  in  war. 
Ancient  historians  tell  us,  that  this  was  the  case,  even  so  late  as 
the  third  century,  with  those  unconquered  Britons  who  liver1 
beyond  Adrian's  wall ;  nay,  that  they  subsisted  chiefly  by  th» 
prey  that  they  took  in  this  way.  The  great  attachment  shown  bj 
all  the  Celtic  nations  to  hunting,  however,  proceeded  most  pro 
bably  from  its  being  a  kind  of  apprenticeship  to  war.  By  it  thei/ 
acquired  that  courage,  strength,  swiftness,  and  dexterity  iii 


n 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


ANCIENT  CELTIC   HUNTER. 

handling  their  arms,  which  made  them  so  formidable  in  war  to 
their  enemies.  By  it,  too,  they  freed  their  country  from  those 
mischievous  animals  which  abounded  in  the  forests,  and  furnished 
themselves  with  materials  for  those  feasts  which  seem  to  have 
constituted  their  greatest  pleasure. 

The  young  chieftains  had  thus,  likewise,  an  opportunity  of  pay- 
ing court  to  their  mistresses,  by  displaying  their  courage  and 
agility,  and  making  them  presents  of  their  game  ;  nay,  so  strong, 
and  universal  was  the  passion  for  hunting  among  the  ancient 
Britons,  that  even  young  ladies  of  the  highest  quality,  and  great- 
est beauty,  spent  much  of  their  time  in  the  chase.  They  em- 
ployed much  the  same  weapons  in  hunting  that  they  did  in  war, 
viz.,  long  spears,  javelins,  and  bows  and  arrows ;  having  also 
great  numbers  of  dogs  to  assist  them  in  finding  and  pursuing  their 
game.  These  dogs  were  much  admired  among  other  nations,  on 
account  of  their  swiftness,  strength,  fierceness,  and  exquisite 
»«nse  of  smelling.  They  s\  ere  highly  valued  by  the  Celtic  nations. 


Ht'NTINQ   AMONG   THE   ANCIENT   MEXICANS  18 


MONTEZUMA. 

CHAPTER   II. 

HUNTING  AMONG   THE  ANCIENT    MEXICANS. 

VERY  circumstance  in  the  character  and 
customs  and  condition  of  the  Mexicans, 
under  Montezuma  and  his  predecessors 
of  the  Aztec  race,  predisposed  them  to 
be  active  hunters.  .The  Aztecs  were  a 
cruel  race  and  delighted  in  blood.  Their 
forest  laws,  according  to  Mr.  Prescott,* 
were  as  severe  as  those  of  the  Normans 
under  Wilhain  the  Conqueror.  They  had  human  sacrifices.  In 
some  of  these  bloody  rites  the  heart  of  the  victim  was  torn  from 
the  living  body,  as  an  acceptable  offering  to  their  stein  gods.  In 
others,  which  might  be  termed  gladiatorial  sacrifices,  the  victim 
was  bound  by  a  chain  attached  to  his  leg  and  fastened  to  a  plat* 
folir.,  where  he  was  compelled  to  fight  a  fiee  antagonist,  ur.til  his 

*  Conquest  of  Mexico. 


HUNTING    ADVENTU11K8, 


GLADIATORIAL    COMBAT    OF    THE    MEXICANS. 

death  closed  the  merciless  combat.  A  people  accustomed  tc 
.spectacles  like  this,  would  naturally  take  peculiar  delight  in  tu« 
sports  of  the  chase.  Accordingly,  we  find  that  the  Mexicans  were 
very  dexterous  in  hunting.  They  used  bows  and  arrows,  darts 
nets,  snares,  and  a  kind  of  tube  named  carbotfane,  through 
which  they  shot  by  blowing  out  little  balls  at  birds.  Those 
which  the  kings  and  great  men  made  use  of  were  curiously 
carved  and  painted,  and  likewise  adorned  with  gold  and  silver. 
Besides  the  exercise  of  the  chase,  which  private  individuals  took 
either  for  amusement  or  to  provide  food,  there  were  genera. 
Hunting-matches,  sometimes  appointed  by  the  king ;  at  others,  to 
provide  victims  for  sacrifices. 

A  large  wood,  generally  that  of  Zacatapec,  near  me  capita* 


HUKTING    AMONG   THE   ANCIENT   MEXICANS. 


15 


was  pitched  upon  as  the  scene  of  these  grand  hunting-matches. 
Here  they,  chose  the  place  best  adapted  for  setting  a  number  of 
snares  and-  nets.  The  wood  was  enclosed  by  some  thousands  of 
hunters,  forming  a  circle  of  six,  seven  or  eight  miles,  according  te 
the  "number  of  animals  they  intended  to  take.  Fire  was  then  set 
to  the  grass  in  a  great  number  of  places,  and  a  terrible  noise  made 
with  drums,  horns,  shouting,  and  whisth'ng.  The  hunters  gradu- 
ally contracted  their  circle,  continuing  the  noise  until  the  game 
were  enclosed  in  a  very  small  space.  They  were  then  killed  or 
taken  in  snares,  or  with  the  hands  of  the  hunters.  The  numbei 
of  animals  taken  or  destroyed  on  these  occasions,  was  so  great, 
that  the  first  Spanish  Viceroy  of  Mexico  would  not  believe  it  with- 
out making  the  experiment  himself. 

The  place  chosen  for  his  hunting-match  was  a  great  plain  in 
the  country  of  the  Otomies,  lying  between  the  villages  of  Xilotepec 
and  S.  Giovani  del  Rio ;  the  Indians  being  ordered  to  proceed* 
according  to  their  usual  customs.     The  Viceroy,  attended  by  a 
vast  retinue  of  Spaniards,  repaired  to  the  place  appointed,  where 


AN   OTOMIE    HUNTER. 


accommodations  were  prepared  for  then,  in  houses  of  wood,  erected 
i  >r  the  purpose.  A  circle  of  more  than  fifteen  miles  was  formed 
by  eleven  thousand  Otomies,  who  started  such  a  quantity  of  game 


16  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 

on  the  plain,  that  the  viceroy  was  quite  astonished,  and  com- 
manded the  greater  part  of  them  to  be  set  at  liberty,  which  was 
accordingly  done.  The  number  retained,  however,  was  still 
incredibly  great,  were  it  not  attested  by  a  witness  of  the  highest 
credit.  On  this  occasion  upwards  of  six  hundred  deer  and  wild 
goats,  one  hundred  cajoles,  with  a  surprising  number  of  hares, 
rabbits,  and  other  smaller  animals.  The  plain  still  retains  the 
Spanish  name  Cazadero,  which  signifies  the  place  of  the  chase. 
The  Mexicans  had  also  particular  contrivances  for  catching  cer- 
lain  animals.  Thus,  to  catch  young  asses,  they  made  a  small  fire 
m  the  woods,  putting  among  the  burning  coals  a  particular  kind 
of  stone  named  cacalottl,  i.  e.  raven  or  black  stone,  which  bursts 
with  a  loud  noise  when  heated.  The  fire  was  covered  with 
earth,  and  a  little  maize  laid  around  it.  The  asses  quickly 
^assembled  with  their  young,  in  order  to  feed  upon  the  maize  ; 
but  while  they  were  thus  employed,  the  stone  burst,  and  scared 
away  the  old  ones  by  the  explosion,  while  the  young  ones,  unable 
to  fly,  were  carried  off  by  the  hunters.  Serpents  were  taken  even 
by  the  hands,  seizing  them  intrepidly  by  the  neck  with  one  hand, 
and  sewing  up  their  mouths  with  the  other.  This  method  is  still 
practised.  They  showed  the  greatest  dexterity  in  tracing  the 
steps  of  wild  beasts,  even  when  an  European  could  not  have 
discerned  the  smallest  print  of  their  feet.  The  Indian  method, 
however,  was  by  observing  sometimes  the  herbs  or  leaves  broken 
down  by  their  feet ;  sometimes  the  drops  of  blood  which  fell  from 
them  when  wounded.'  Some  of  the  American  Indians  show  still 
greater  dexterity  in  discovering  the  tracks  of  their  eT>«»'nies,  which 
M  an  European  would  be  altogether  imperceptible 


HUNTING    IN    THE    EAST   INDIES 


IIYDER    AM. 

CHAPTER  III. 

HUNTING   IN   THE   EAST   INDIES. 

UNTING  was  a  favorite  diver- 
sion  of  the  bloody  conqueror, 
Jenghiz  Khan,  if  indeed  the 
word  diversion  can  be  applied 
to  a  monster  whose  mind  was 
set  upon  the  destruction  of  his 
own  species,  and  who  only  en- 
deavored to  make  the  murder 
of  brutes  subservient  to  that  of 
men,  by  keeping  his  soldiers  in  a  kind  of  warfare  with  the  beasts 
when  they  had  no  humaa  enemies  to  contend  with.  His  expe- 
ditions were  conducted  on  a  plan  similar  to  that  of  the  Mexicans 
already  mentioned ;  and  were  no  doubt  attended  with  stil]  greater 

2 


18  HUNTING    AJ) VENTURES. 


success,  as  his  numerous  army  could  enclose  a  much  greater 
space  than  all  the  Indians  whom  the  Spanish  viceroy  could 
muster.  The  East  Indian  princes  still  show  the  same  inclination 
to  the  chase ;  and  Mr.  Blane,  who  attended  the  hunting  excur- 
sions of  Asoph  Ul  Dowah,  Vizier  of  the  Mogul  empire,  and  Nabob 
of  Oude,  in  1785  and  1786,  in  the  time  of  Hyder  Ali,  gives  the 
following  account  of  the  method  practised  on  this  occasion. 

The  time  is  about  the  beginning  of  December ;  and  the  diver- 
sion is  continued  till  the  heats,  which  commence  about  the  begin- 
ning of  March,  oblige  them  to  stop.  During  this  period  a  circuit 
of  between  four  and  six  hundred  miles  is  generally  made ;  the 
hunters  bending  their  course  towards  the  skirts  of  the  northern 
mountains,  where  the  country  is  wild  and  uncultivated.  The 
Vizier  takes  along  with  him  not  only  his  Court  and  seraglio,  but 
.a  great  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  his  capital.  His  immediate 
•attendants  amount  to  about  two  thousand  ;  but  he  is  also  followed 
by  five  or  six  hundred  horse,  and  several  battalions  of  regular 
sepoys  with  their  field  pieces :  four  or  five  hundred  elephants 
also  accompany  him;  of  which  some  are  used  for  riding,  others 
for  fighting,  and  some  for  clearing  the  jungles  and  forests  of  the 
ame.  About  as  many  sumpter  horses  of  the  beautiful  Persian 
and  Arabian  breeds  are  taken  with  him. 

A  great  number  of  wheel  carriages,  drawn  by  bullocks,  likewise 
attend,  which  are  used  chiefly  for  the  convenience  of  the  women  ; 
sometimes  also  he  has  an  English  chaise  or  two,  and  sometimes  a 
chariot ;  but  all  these,  as  well  as  the  horses,  are  merely  for  show, 
the  Vizier  himself  never  using  any  ofher  conveyance  than  an 
elephant,  or  sometimes,  when  fatigued  or  indisposed,  a  palanquin. 
The  animals  used  in  the  sport  are  principally  about  *hree  hundred 
greyhounds,  two  hundred  hawks,  and  a  few  trained  leopards  for 
hunting  deer.  There  is  a  great  number  of  marksmen,  whose - 
profession  it  is  to  shoot  deer  ;  with  many  fowlers,  who  provide 
game ;  as  none  of  the  natives  of  India  know  how  to  shoot  game 
with  small  shot,  or  to  hunt  with  slow  bounds. 

A  vast  number  of  matchlocks  are  carried  along  with  the  com- 
pnnv.  w'th  many  English  pieces  of  various  kinds,  40  or  50  pairs 


/itNTINQ    IN   THE   EAST   INDIES.  21 


of  pistols,  bows  and  arrows,  besides  swords,  daggers,  and  sabres 
without  number.  There  are  also  nets  of  various  kinds,  some  for 
quails  ;  and  others  very  large,  for  fishing,  which  are  carried  along 
with  him  upon  elephants,  attended  by  fishermen,  so  as  always  to 
be  ready  for  throwing  into  any  river  or  lake  that  may  be  met  with. 
Every  article  that  can  contribute  to  luxury  or  pleasure  is  likewise 
carried  along  with  the  army.  A  great  number  of  carts  are  loaded 
with  the  Ganges  water,  and  even  ice  is  transported  for  cooling  the 
drink.  The  fruits  of  the  season  and  fresh  vegetables  are  daily 
sent  to  him  from  his  gardens  by  bearers  stationed  at  every  ten 
miles ;  by  which  means  each  article  is  conveyed  day  and  night  at 
the  rate  of  four  miles  an  hour.  There  are  also  fighting  antelopes, 
buffaloes,  and  rams  in  great  numbers ;  several  hundred  pigeons, 
some  fighting  cocks,  and  a  vast  variety  of  parrots,  nightingales, 
&c.  To  complete  the  magnificence  or  extravagance  of  this  expe- 
dition, there  is  always  a  large  bazaar,  or  moving  town,  which 
attends  the  camp ;  consisting  of  shop-keepers  and  artificers  of  all 
kinds,  money-changers,  dancing  women  ;  so  that,  on  the  most 
moderate  calculation,  the  whole  number  of  people  in  his  camp 
cannot  be  computed  at  fewer  than  30,000. 

The  Nabob  himself,  and  all  the  gentlemen  of  his  camp,  are 
provided  with  double  sets  of  tents  and  equipage,  which  are  always 
sent  on  the  day  before  to  the  place  to  which  he  intends  to  go ;  and 
this  is  generally  eight  or  ten  miles,  in  whatever  direction  most 
game  is  expected  ;  so  that  by  the  time  he  has  finished  his  sport  in 
the  morning,  he  finds  his  whole  camp  ready  pitched  for  his  recep- 
tion. The  Nabob,  with  the  attending  gentlemen,  proceed  in  a 
regular  moving  court  or  durbar,  and  thus  they  keep  conversing 
together  and  looking  out  for  game.  Many  foxes,  hares,  jackals, 
and  sometimes  deer,  are  picked  up  as  they  pass  along  :  the  hawks 
are  carried  immediately  before  the  elephants,  and  let  fly  at  what- 
ever game  is  sprung,  which  is  generally  partridges,  bustards, 
quails,  and  different  kinds  of  herons  ;  these  last  affording  excellent 
sport  with  the  falcons. 

Wild  boars  are  sdmetimes  started,  and  either  shot  or  run  down 
by  the  dogs  an!  horsemen.  Hunting  the  tiger,  however,  is  »ooked 


22  HUNTING     A  L»  VENTURES. 


upon  as  the  principle  diversion,  and  the  discovery  of  one  of  these 
animals  is  accounted  a  matter  of  great  joy.  The  cover  in  whicn 
he  is  found  is  commonly  long  grass,  or  reeds  of  such  a  height  as 
frequently  to  reach  above  the  elephants ;  and  it  is  difficult  to  find 
him  in  such  a  place,  as  he  commonly  endeavors  either  to  steal 
off,  or  lies  so  close  to  the  ground  that  he  cannot  be  roused  till  the 
elephants  are  almost  upon  him.  He  then  roars  and  skulks  away, 
but  is  shot  at  as  soon  as  he  can  be  seen ;  it  being  generally  con- 
trived that  the  Nabob  shall  have  the  compliment  of  firing  first. 
If  he  be  not  disabled,  he  continues  to  skulk  along,  followed  by 
the  elephants;  the  Nabob  and  others  shooting  at  him,  as  often  a* 
he  can  be  seen,  till  he  falls. 

The  elephants  themselves  are  very  much  afraid  of  this  terribie 
animal,  and  discover  their  apprehensions  by  shrieking  and  roaring 
as  soon  as  they  begin  to  smell  him  or  hear  him  growl;  generally 
attempting  to  turn  away  from  the  place  where  he  is.  When  the 
tiger  can  be  traced  to  a  particular  spot,  the  elephants  are  disposed 
of  in  a  circle  round  him;  in  which  case  he  will  at  last  make  a 
desperate  attack,  springing  upon  the  elephant  that  is  nearest,  and 
attempting  to  tear  him  with  his  teeth  or  claws.  Some,  but  very 
few,  of  the  elephants,  can  be  brought  to  attack  the  tiger ;  and  thv 
they  do  by  curling  up  their  trunks  under  their  mouths,  and  then 
attempting  to  toss,  or  otherwise  destroy  him  with  their  tusks,  or  to 
crush  him  with  their  feet  or  knees.  It  is  considered  as  good  sport 
to  kill  one  tiger  in  the  day  ;  though  sometimes,  when  a  female  is 
met  with  her  young  ones,  two  or  three  will  be  killed.  The  other 
objects  of  pursuit  in  these  excursions  are  wild  elephants,  buffaloes 
rhinoceroses.  Our  author  was  present  at  the  hunting  of  a  wild 
elephant  of  vast  size  and  strength.  An  attempt  was  first  made  to 
take  him  alive  by  surrounding  him  with  tame  elephants,  while  he 
was  kept  at  bay  by  crackers  and  other  fire-works ;  but  he  con- 
stantly eluded  every  effort  of  this  kind.  Sometimes  the  drivers 
of  the  tame  elephants  got  so  near  him,  that  they  threw  strong 
jopes  over  his  head,  and  endeavored  to  detain  him  by  fastening 
them  around  trees  ;  but  he  constantly  snapped  the  ropes  like  pack- 
breads,  and  pursued  his  way  to  the  forest.  Some  of  the  strongest 


HUNTING    IN   THE    EAST    INDIES. 


euid  most  furious  of  the  fighting  elephants  were  then  brought  up 
to  engage  him ;  but  he  attacked  them  with  such  fury  that  they 
were  all  obliged  to  desist.  In  his  struggle  with  one  of  them  he 
broke  one  of  his  tusks,  and  the  broken  piece,  which  was  upwards 
of  two  inches  in  diameter,  of  solid  ivory,  flew  up  into  the  air 
several  yards  above  their  heads.  Orders  were  now  given  to  kill 
him,  as  it  appeared  impossible  to  take  him  alive ;  but  even  this 
was  not  accomplished  without  the  greatest  difficulty.  He  twice; 
turned  and  attacked  the  party  who  pursued  him ;  and  in  one  ol 
these  attacks  struck  the  elephant  obliquely  on  which  the  prince 
rode,  threw  him  upon  his  side,  but  then  passed  on  without  offering 
farther  injury.  At  last  he  fell  dead,  after  having  received  up 
wards  of  one  thousand  balls  into  his  body. 


ILXFHAMT    HUJfT. 


26 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

TERMS    USED   IN   HUNTING. 

HE    gentlemen   of   the    sport 
have     invented    a    set    of 
term?,  which  may  be  called 
the  hunting  language.     The  princi- 
pal are  these : 

1.  For  beasts,  as  they  are  in  com- 
pany : — They  say,  a  herd  of  harts, 
and  all  manner  of  deer  ;  a  hey  of  roes  ;  a 
sounder  of  swine  ;   a  rout  of  wolves ;  a 
rich  ess  of  martens :    a  brace  or  leash  of 
JIM  ks,  foxes,  or  hares  ;  a  couple  of  rabbits  or  coneys. 

2.  For  their  lodging : — A  hart  is  said  to  harbor ;  a  buck 
lodges ;  a  roe  beds  ;  a  hare  seats  or  forms  ;  a  coney  sits ;  a  fox 
kennels ;  a  marten  trees  ;  an  otter  watches ;  a  badger  earths  '•  a 
boar  couches.  Hence,  to  express  their  dislodging,  they  say,  un- 
harbor  the  hart ;  rouse  the  buck  ;  start  the  hare  ;  bolt  the  coney  ; 
unkennel  the  fox;  untree  the  v.iarten;  vent  the  otter;  dig  the 
badger  ;  rear  the  boar. 


TERMS    USED   IN   HUNTING.  27 


3  For  cheir  noise  at  rutting  time  : — A  hart  belleth  ;  a  buck 
growns,  or  treats  ;  a  roe  bellows  ;  a  hare  beats  or  taps  ;  an  jotter 
whines  ;  a  boar  freams ;  a  fox  barks  ;  a  badger  shrieks ;  a  wolf 
howls  ;  a  goat  rattles. 

4.  For  their  copulation  : — A  hart  or  buck  goes  to  rut ;  a  roe  to 
tourn  ;  a  boar  to  brim  ;  a  hare  or  coney  to  buck  ;  a  fox  to  clickit- 
ting  ;  a  wolf  to  match  or  make  ;  an  otter  hunts  for  his  kind. 

5.  For  the  footing  and  treading  : — Of  a  hart,  they  say,  the  slot ; 
of  a  buck,  and  all  fallow-deer,  the  view ;  of  all  deer,  if  on  the 
grass,  and  scarce  visible,  the  foiling ;  of  a  fox,  the  print ;  and  of 
other  vermin,  the  footing  ;  of  an  otter,  the  marks  ;  of  a  boar,  the 
track;  the  hare  when  in  open  field,  is  said  to  sore;  when  she 
winds  about  to  deceive  the  hounds,  she  doubles ;   when  she   beats 
on  the  hard  highway,  and  her  footing  comes  to  be  perceived,  she 
pricketh :   in  snow,  it  is  called  the  trace  of  the  hare. 

6.  The  tail  of  a  hart,  buck,  or  other  deer,  it  is  called  the  single  ; 
that  of  a  boar,  the  wreath  ;  of  a  fox,  the  br"°h  or  drag  ;  and  the 
tip  at  the   end,  the  chape ;  of  a  wolf  the  stern ;  of  a  hare  and 
coney,  the  scut. 

7.  The  ordure  of  a  hart,  ami  all  deer,  is  called  fewmets  or  few- 
mishing ;  of  a  hare,  crotiles  or  crotising ;  of  a  boar,  lesses  ;  of  a 
fox,  the  billetting ;  and  of  other  vermin,  the  fuants  ;  of  an  otter, 
the  spraints. 

8.  As  the  attire  or  parts  of  deer,  those  of  a  stag,  if  perfect,  are 
the  bur,  the  pearls,  the  little  knobs  on  it,  the   beam,  the  gutters, 
the  antler,  the  fur  antler,  royal,  fur  royal,  and  all  at  top  the 
troches ;   of  the  buck   the  bur,  beam,  brow  antler,  black  antler 
advancer,  palm,  and  spellers.     If  the  croches  grow  in  the  form  ol 
a  man's  hand,  it  is  called  a   palmed   head.     Heads  bearing  not 
above  three  or  four,  and  the  croches  placed  aloft,  all  of  one  height, 
are  called  crowned   heads  ;   heads  having  double    croches,  are 
called  forked  heads,  because  the  croches  are  planted  on  the  top  ol 
the  beams  like  forks. 

9.  Of  the  young,  they^say,  a  litter  of  cubs,  a  nest  of  rabbits, 
a  squirrel's  dray. 

10.  The  terms  used  in  respect  of  the  dogs,  &c.,  are  as  follows 


28  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


-Of  greyhounds,  two  make  a  brace  ;  of  hounds,  a  couple ;  of 
greyhounds,  three  make  a  leash  ;  of  hounds,  a  couple  and  half. 
They  say,  let  slip  a  greyhound  ;  and,  cast-off  a  hound.  The 
string  wherein  a  greyhound  is  led,  is  called  a  leash  ;  and  that 
of  a  hound,  a  lyome.  The  greyhound  has  his  collaj,  and  the 
bound  his  couples.  We  say  a  kennel  of  hounds,  and  a  pack  of 
beagles. 

11.  The  following  terms  and  phrases  arv  more  immediately 
used  in  the  progress  of  the  sport  itself.  When  the  hounds, 
being  cast-off,  and  finding  the  scent  of  some  game,  begin  xo  open 
and  cry,  they  are  said  to  challenge  ;  when  they  are  too  busy  ere 
the  scent  be  good,  they  are  said  to  babble  ;  when  too  busy 
where  the  scent  is  good,  to  bawl ;  when  they  fun  it  endwiw 
orderly,  holding  in  together  merrily,  and  making  it  good,  they  are 
said  to  be  in  full  cry  ;  when  they  run  along  without  opening  at  all, 
it  is  called,  running  mute  ;  when  spaniels  open  in  the  string,  or  a 
greyhound  in  the  course,  they  are  said  to  lapse  ;  when  beagles 
bark  and  cry  at  their  prey,  they  are  said  to  yearn  ;  when  the  dogs 
hit  the  scent  the  contrary  way,  they  are  said  to  draw  amiss  ;  when 
they  take  fresh  scent  and  quit  the  former  chase  for  a  new  one,  it 
is  called  hunting  change  ;  when  they  hunt  the  game  by  the  heel 
or  tra.-k,  they  are  said  to  hunt  counter ;  when  the  chase  goes  off, 
and  returns  again,  traversing  the  same  ground,  it  is  called  hunt- 
ing the  foil ;  when  the  dogs  run  at  a  whole  herd  of  deer,  instead 
of  a  single  one,  it  is  called  running  riot;  dogs  set  in  readiness 
where  the  game  is  expected  to  come  by,  and  cast-off  after  the 
other  hounds  are  passed,  are  called  a  relay.  If  they  be  cast-off 
ere  the  other  dogs  come  up,  it  is  called  vountlay ;  when,  finding 
where  the  chase  has  been,  they  make  a  proffer  to  enter,  but 
return,  it  is  called  a  blemish  ;  a  lesson  on  the  horn  to  encourage 
the  hounds,  is  named  a  call,  or  recheat ;  that  blown  at  the  death  of 
a  deer,  is  called  the  m^rt ;  the  part  belonging  to  the  dogs  of  any 
chase  they  have  killed,  is  the  reward ;  they  say,  take  off  a  deer's 
skin  ;  strip  or  case  a  hare,  fox,  and  all  sorts  of  vermin  ;  which  is 
Jone  by  beginning  at  the  snout,  and  turning  the  skin  over  the 
«ars  down  to  ».he  tail. 


HUNTING    IN    ENGLAND    AND   SCOTLAND. 


29 


HUNTING  IN  ENGLAND  AND  SCOTLAND. 
IN  no  country  is  hunting  so  passion- 

/V^ragpRP^^^Hi^  ately  iove<*  as  in  Great  Britain.  From 
/  ^b^P^^f^f'  the  earliest  period  of  history,  to  the 
present  time,  the  nobility  and  gentry 
of  England  have  taken  pride  in  all 
3*1* -wrt  •"•/**"'  tne  curjous  lore  nf  the  hunter's  art 
7olumes  might  be  written — we  should  rather  say,  scores  of  vo 
.times  have  been  published  in  that  untry,  on  what  is  styled  by 
the  ancient  writers,  the  "  noble  arte  of  vtnerie."  To  avoid  pro- 
lixity on  this  part  of  our  subject,  we  shall,  m  the  next  succeeding 
chapters,  give  the  brief  directions  of  an  old  writer,  on  the  modes 
of  hunting  the  various  juadrupeds  of  the  chase,  both  on  the 
Island  of  Great  Britain  and  on  the  continent ;  reserving  the 


30  HUNTING     ADVENTURES, 


privilege  of  recurring  to  certain  branches  of  the  subject  hereafter. 
Our  authority  says  : 

Hunting,  as  practised  in  England  and  Scotland,  is  chiefly 
performed  with  dogs ;  of  which  we  have  various  species,  ac- 
commodated to  the  different  kinds  of  game,  as  greyhounds, 
•jloodhounds,  terriers,  &c.  In  the  kennels  or  packs,  they  gene- 
rally rank  them  under  the  heads  of  enterers,  drivers,  flyers,  tyers, 
&c.  On  some  occasions,  nets,  spears  and  instruments  for  digging 
the  ground,  are  also  required  ;  nor  is  the  hunting  horn  to  be  omitted. 
The  usual  chases  are,  the  hart,  buck,  roe,  hare,  fox,  badger,  and 
otter. 

Hunting  is  practised  in  different  seasons  and  manners,  and 
with  different  apparatus,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  beasts 
*"hich  are  hunted.  With  regard  to  the  seasons,  that  for  hart 
and  buck  hunting,  begins  a  fortnight  after  midsummer,  and  lasts 
till  Holy- rood  day  ;  that  for  the  hind  and  doe,  begins  on  Holy- 
rood  day,  and  lasts  till  Candlemas  ;  that  for  fox  hunting,  begins  at 
Christmas,  and  holds  till  Lady-day  ;  that  for  roe  hunting,  begins 
at  Michaelmas,  and  ends  at  Christmas  ;  hare  hunting  commences 
at  Michaelmas,  and  lasts  till  the  end  of  February ;  and  where  the 
wolf  and  boar  are  hunted,  the  season  for  each  begins  at  Christ- 
mas, the  first  ending  at  Lady-day,  and  the  latter  at  the  Purification. 
When  the  sportsmen  have  provided  themselves  with  nets,  spears, 
and  a  hunting  horn  to  call  the  dogs  together,  and  likewise  with 
instruments  for  digging  the  ground,  the  following  directions  will 
be  of  use  to  them,  in  the  pursuit  of  various  sorts  of  game. 


HUNTING    THE    BADGEK. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HUNTING   THE   BADGER. 

HE  Badger  is  found  in  almost  all  the  temperate 
climates  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America ;  mea- 
sures in  general  about  two  feet  and  a  half  from 
the  snout  to  the  insertion  of  the  tail.     The  body 
)    is  thick,  the  legs  short  and  muscular,  and  the 
J     fore  feet  provided  with  claws  ;  the  superior  part 
of  the  body  is  of  a  dirty  greyish  color,  the  inferior  black  :  the 


81,  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 

hair  i»<  long  and  rough  on  the  juefc  and  Sides,  but  shortei  on  th« 
throat,  breast,  and  belly.  It  secretes  a  fetid  substance  in  an  orifice 
under  the  tail,  which  gives  it  a  very  offensive  smell.  It  is  a  soli- 
tary animal,  and  resides  in  woolly  places,  in  burrows  which  it 
digs  deep  in  the  earth,  with  long  winding  entrances,  and  keeps 
remarkably  clean.  It  feeds  upon  young  rabbits,  frogs,  birds  and 
their  eggs  and  young ;  but  seldom  ventures  far  from  its  habita- 
tion, and  that  only  at  nightfall.  If  surprised  by  dogs  in  its  excur- 
sions, it  turns  upon  its  back,  combats  with  desperate  resolution, 
and  seldom  dies  unrevenged ;  nor  is  he  easily  conquered,  for  his 
skin  is  so  thick  and  loose,  that  the  teeth  of  a  dog  make  but  little 
impression.  It  is  very  torpid,  especially  in  winter.  The  female 
brings  forth  once  a-year,  three  or  four  at  a  time.  When  taken 
young,  it  is  easily  tamed,  will  play  with  the  dogs,  and  follow  ita 
master  about  the  house.  Its  flesh,  when  well  and  cleanly  fed, 
makes  excellent  hams :  those  of  the  South  American  Badger  were 
wont  to  be  considered  so  delicious,  that  the  sale  of  them  was  pro- 
hibited but  to  the  viceroy,  who  sent  an  annual  present  to  Madrid 
for  the  royal  table. 


Our  old  friend,  already  quoted,  gives  the  following  directions' 
for  hunting  the  badge rf- 

Seek  the  earth  and  burrows  where  he  lies,  and  in  a  cleai 
moonshine  night  go  and  stop  them  all, .except  one  or  two,  and 
therein  place  some  sacks,  fastened  with  drawing  strings,  which 
may  shut  him  in  as  soon  as  he  strains  the  bag.  Some  only  set  a 
hoop  in  the  mouth  of  the  sack,  and  so  put  it  into  the  hole  ;  and  as 
<soon  as  the  badger  is  in  the  sack  and  straineth  it,  the  sack  slip- 
peth  ofT  the  hoop  and  follows  him  to  the  earth,  where  he  lies 


HUNTING    THE   BADGER.  33 

tnmhlmg  till  he  is  tak-.-n.  These  sacks  being  thus  set,  cast  ofl 
the  hounds,  and  beating  about  all  the  woods,  coppices,  hedges, 
and  tufts,  round  about,  for  the  compass  of  a  mile  or  two ;  and 
such  badgers  as  are  abroad,  being  alarmed  by  the  hounds,  will 
jjoon  betake  themselves  to  their  burrows. 

He  who  is  placed  to  watch  the  sacks,  must  stand  close,  and  .upon 
a  clear  wind ;  otherwise,  the  badger  will  discover  him,  and  wilJ 
immediately  fly  some  other  way  into  his  burrow.  But  if  the 
Hounds  can  encounter  him,  before  he  can  take  his  sanctuary,  he 
will  then  stand  at  bay  like  a  boar,  and  make  good  sport,  griev- 
ously biting  and  clawing  the  dogs,  for  the  manner  of  their  fight- 
ing is  lying  on  their  backs,  using  both  teeth  and  nails  ;  and  by 
blowing  up  their  skins,  defend  themselves  against  all  bites  of  the 
dogs,  and  blows  of  the  men  upon  their  noses.  For  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  dogs,  put  broad  collars  about  their  necks,  made  of  grey 
tkins. 

When  the  badger  perceives  the  terriers  begin  to  yearn  him  in 
lis  burrow,  he  will  stop  the  hole  betwixt  him  and  the  terriers,  and 
if  they  still  continue  baying,  he  will  remove  his  couch  into  another 
chamber,  or  part  of  the  burrow,  and  so  from  one  to  another,  barri- 
cading the  way  before  them,  as  they  retreat,  until  they  can  go  no. 
further.  If  you  intend  to  dig  the  badger  out  of  his  burrow,  you 
must  be  provided  with  the  same  tools  as  for  digging  out  a  fox ; 
and  should  have  a  pail  of  water  to  refresh  the  terriers,  when  they 
come  out  of  the  earth  to  take  breath  and  cool  themselves.  It  will 
also  be  necessary  to  put  collars  with  bells,  about  the  necks  of  the 
.erriers,  which,  making  a  noise,  may  cause  the  badger  to  bolt  out. 
The  tools  used  for  digging  out  the  badger  being  troublesome  to 
be  carried  en  men's  backs,  may  be  brought  in  a  cart. 

In  digging,  consider  the  situation  of  the  ground,  by  which  you 
may  judge  where  the  chief  angles  are  ;  for  else,  instead  of  advanc- 
ing the  work,  you  will  hinder  it.  In  this  order  you  may  besiege 
them  in  their  holes,  and  work  to  them  with  mines  and  counter- 
mines until  you  have  overcome  them.  Having  taken  a  live 
badger,  if  you  would  make  sport,  carry  him  home  in  a  sack,  and 

turn  him  out  in  your  court-yard,  or  some  other  inclosed  place 
o 


53  HUNTING    ADVUN'Tl'UES. 

and  there  *et  him  be  hunted  and  worried  to  death  by  your  bounds 
The  flesh,  blood,  and  grease,  of  the  badger,  though  not  good  food, 
yet  are  useful  in  laboratories,  for  making  oils,  ointments,  salves, 
and  powders  for  shortness  of  breath,  cough,  the  stone,  sprained, 
sinews,  colt-aches,  &c. ;  and  the  skin  when  well  dressed,  ;s  warm, 
and  good  for  old  people  who  are  troubled  with  paralytic  distem- 
pers. 


HUNTING    THE    WILD    BOAR. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

HUNTING  THE   WILD   BOAR. 

THE  Wild  Boar,  the  original  stock,  and 
once  very  plentiful  in  the  British  forests, 
is  more  sagacious  and  cleanly  lhan  the 
domesticated  animal.  He  is  smaller  in 
body,  with  a  longer  snout,  and  short  round 
ears ;  he  is  likewise  more  uniform  in  color, 
being  always  of  an  iron-grey,  shading  into 
black:  they  feed  chiefly  upon  acorns  and 
ether  fruit;  they  also  plough  up  the  ground  for  roots.  They  aid 
partly  gregarious,  and  the  herds  combine  for  mutual  defence  ; 
when  attacked,  they  place  the  youngest  and  feeblest  in  the  centre, 
and  forming  a  semicircle,  present  a  front  which  few  of  the  largest 
animals  will  dare  to  attack,  or  if  they  do,  will  escape  with  impunity. 
The  chase  of  the  wild  boar  is  a  favorite  amusement  in  those 
countries  where  he  is  found.  He  is  hunted  with  the  small  mastiff: 
when  " reared,"  he  betrays  little  fear;  going  slowly  forward,  he 
stops  at  intervals,  turns  round  and  dares  his  pursuers,  who,  it 


86  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


experienced  dogs,  aware  of  his  ferocity,  bay  at  a  respectful  distance 
till  he  resume  his  course  and  proceed.  When  completely  fatigued, 
the  younger  brood  close  upon  him,  and  not  unfrequently  surfer  for 
their  rashness ;  the  hunters  then  finish  the  business  with  their 
spears.  If  not  too  old,  his  flesh  is  highly  esteemed,  especially 
the  hams. 


THE    WILD    BOAR. 

.The  Wild  Boar  among  huntsmen,  has  several  names,  according 
to  its  different  ages  ;  the  first  year,  it  is  called  a  pig  of  the 
saunder;  the  second,  it  is  called  a  hog;  the  third,  a  hog-steer; 
and  the  fourth,  a  boar ;  when  leaving  the  saunder,  he  is  called  a 
singler  or  sangler.  The  boar  generally  lives  to  twenty-five  or 
thirty  years,  if  he  escapes  accidents.  The  time  of  rutting  is  in 
December,  and  lasts  about  three  weeks.  Boars  feed  on  all  sorts 
of  fruits,  and  on  the  roots  of  many  plants,  particularly  fern.  When 
near  the  sea-coasts,  they  will  descend  to  the  shores  and  demolish 
the  more  tender  shell-fish  in  very  great  numbers.  Their  general 
places  of  rest  are  among  the  thickest  bushes  that  can  be  found ; 
and  they  are  not  easily  put  out  of  them,  but  will  stand  the  bay  a 
long  time.  In  April  and  May  they  sleep  more  sound  than  at  any 
other  time  of  the  year.  This  is  therefore  the  successful  time  for 
taking  them  in  the  toils. 

When  a  boar  is  roused  out  of  the  thicket,  he  always  goes  from 
it,  if  possible,  the  same  way  by  which  he  came  to  it ;  and  when 
he  i?  once  up,  he  will  never  stop  till  he  comes  to  some  place  of 
more  security.  If  it  happens  that  a  saunder  of  them  are  found 
together,  when  any  one  breaks  away,  the  rest  all  follow  the  same 


HUNTING   THE   WILD   BOAR.  39 


way.  When  the  boar  is  hunted  in  the  wood  where  he  was  bred, 
he  will  scarce  ever  be  brought  to  quit  it ;  he  will  sometimes  make 
towards  the  sides  to  listen  to  the  noise  of  the  dogs,  but  retires  into 
the  middle  again,  and  usually  dies  or'escapes  there. 

When  a  boar  runs  ahead,  he  will  not  be  stopped  or  put  out  of 
his  waj ,  by  man  or  beast,  so  long  as  he  has  any  strength  left. 
He  makes  no  doubles  or  crossings  when  chased.  An  old  boar 
when  killed  makes  no  noise ;  the  sows  and  pigs  squeak  when 
wounded.  The  season  for  hunting  the  wild  boar  begins  in  Sep- 
tember, and  ends  in  December,  when  they  go  to  rut.  If  it  be  a 
large  boar,  and  one  that  has  lain  long  at  rest,  he  must  be  hunted 
with  a  great  number  of  dogs,  and  those  such  as  will  keep  close  to 
him  ;  and  the  huntsman,  with  his  spear,  should  always  be  riding 
in  among  them,  and  charging  the  boar  as  often  as  he  can,  to  dis- 
courage him ;  such  a  boar  as  this,  with  five  or  six  couples  of 
dogs,  will  run  to  the  first  place  of  shelter,  and  there  stand  at  Day, 
and  make  at  them  as  they  attempt  to  come  up  with  him. 

There  ought  always  to  be  relays  also  set  of  the  best  and 
staunches!  hounds  in  the  kennel;  for  if  they  are  of  young  eager 
dogs,  they  will  be  apt  to  seize  him,  and  be  killed  or  spoiled  before 
the  rest  come  up.  Collars  with  bells  about  the  dog's  necks  are  a 
great  security  for  them ;  for  the  boar  will  not  so  soon  strike  at 
them  when  they  have  these,  but  will  rather  run  before  them. 
The  huntsmen  generally  kill  the  boar  with  their  swords  or  spears ; 
but  great  caution  is  necessary  in  making  the  blows ;  for  he  is  very 
apt  to  catch  them  upon  his  snout  or  tusks ;  and  if  wounded  and 
not  killed,  he  will  attack  the  huntsman  in  the  most  furicus 
manner. 

The  places  to  give  the  wound  with  the  spear  is  either  between  the 
eyes  in  the  middle  of  the  forehead,  or  in  the  shoulder ;  both  these 
places  make  the  wound  mortal.  When  this  animal  makes  at  the 
hunter,  there  is  nothing  for  it  but  courage  and  address ;  if  he  flies 
he  is  sure  to  be  overtaken  and  killed.  If  the  boar  comes  straight 
up,  he  is  to  be  received  at  the  point  of  the  spear  ;  but  if  he  makes 
doubles  and  windings,  he  is  to  be  watched  very  cautiously,  for  ho 
will  attempt  getting  hold  of  the  spear  in  his  mouth ;  and  if  he 


40  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


doe  i,  nothing  can  save  the  huntsman,  but  another  person  attacking 
him  behind  ;  he  will  on  this  attack  the  second  person,  and  the 
first  must  then  attack  him  again ;  two  people  will  thus  have 
enough  to  do  with  him  ;  and  were  it  not  for  the  forks  of  the  boar- 
spears  that  make  it  impossible  to  press  forward  upon  them,  the 
huntsman  who  gives  the  creature  his  death's  wound  would  seldom 
escape  falling  a  sacrifice  to  his  revenge. 

The  modern  way  of  boar-hunting  is  generally  to  dispatch  the 
creature  by  all  the  huntsmen  striking  him  at  once ;  but  the 
ancient  Roman  way  was,  for  a  person  on  foot,  armed  with  a 
spear,  to  keep  the  creature  at  bay ;  and  in  this  case  the  boat 
would  run  of  hmiself  upon  the  spear  to  come  at  the  huntsman, 
and  push  forward  till  the  spear  pierced  him  through. 

The  hinder  claws  of  a  boar  are  called  guards.     In  the  corn, 
he  is  said  to  feed  ;  in  the  meadows  or  sallow-fields,  to  rout,  worm, 
or  fern  ;  in  u  close,  to  graze.     The  boar  is  farrowed  with  as  many 
teeth  as  he  will  ever  have  ;  his  teeth  increasing  only  in  bigness,  not 
in  number ;  among  these  there  are  four  called  tushes,  or  tusks ; 
the  two  biggest  of  which  do  not  hurt  when  he  strikes,  but  serve 
only  to  whet  the  other  two  lowest,  with  which  the  beast  defends 
himself,  and  frequently  kills,  as  being  greater  and  longer  than 
the  rest.     These  creatures  in  the  West  Indies  are  subject  to  the 
stone  ;  few  of  them  are  absolutely  free  from  it,  yet  scarce  any  ol 
them  have  the  stones  of  any  considerable  size.     It  is  common  to 
find  a  great  number  in  the  same  bladder.     They  are  usually  of 
about  a  scruple  weight,  and  are  angular  and  regular,  each  having 
five  angles.     Among  the  ancient  Romans,  boar's  flesh  was  a  deli 
cacy  ;  a  boar  served  up  a  whole  dish  of  state.     The  boar  vva 
sometimes  the   military  ensign  of  the   Roman  armies,  in  lieu  o 
the  eagle.     Among  physicians,  a  boar's  bladder  has  been  repute\ 
ft  specific  for  the  epilepsy.     The  tush  of  the  wild  boar  still  passe 
with  some  as  of  great  efficacy  in  quinzies  and  pleurisies 


HUNTING   THE    BUFFALO. 


48 


CAFFRE    BUFFALO. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

HUNTING   THE   BUFFALO. 

jNDER  different  names,  this  animal  it 
widely  diffused.  He  has  long  beea 
domesticated  in  India,  where  his  ser- 
vices as  a  beast  of  draught  and  burden 
render  him  extremely  valuable.  From 
India  he  has  spread  into  Egypt,  Greece 
Italy  and  Spain.  He  is  heavier,  clum- 
sier, and  more  formidable  than  the  ox 
or  the  domestic  bull.  A  variety  found  in  Africa,  called  the  leap 
buffalo,  is  peculiarly  ferocious.  In  its  native  regions,  the  buffalo 
is  considered  by  hunters,  one  of  the  most  formidable  beasts  of 
chase.  It  is  capable  of  contending  with  the  tiger,  which  is  often 
foiled  in  the  deadly  strife.  When  excited,  the  beast  rushes  des- 
perately on  its  foe,  strikes  him  down  with  the  horns  or  forehead, 
kneels  upon  him,  crushing  in  his  chest,  and  then  tramples  on  the 
n'feless  body  as  if  to  satiate  its  vindictive  fury. 

Dr.  Sparrman  gives  the  following  description  of  the  mode  of 
bunting  him  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.     "  When  we  advanced 


44  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


to  within  twenty  or  thirty  paces  of  the  beast,  and  consequently 
were  in  some  degree  actuated  by  our  fears,  we  discharged  oui 
pieces  pretty  nearly  at  the  same  time  ;  while  the  buffalo,  which 
was  upon  rather  lower  ground  than  we  were,  behind  a  thin  scam- 
bling  bush,  seemed  to  turn  his  head  around  in  order  to  make 
toward  us.  In  the  meanwhile,  however,  the  moment  we  had 
discharged  our  guns,  we  had  the  pleasure  to  see  him  fall,  and 
directly  afterwards  run  down  into  the  thickest  part  of  the  wood. 
This  induced  us  to  hope  that  our  shot  had  proved  mortal ;  fo» 
which  reason,  we  had  the  imprudence  to  follow  him  down  intc 
the  close  thickets,  where  luckily  for  us  we  could  get  no  farther 
We  had,  however,  as  we  found  afterwards,  only  hit  the  hindmost 
part  of  the  chine,  where  the  balls,  which  lay  at  the  distance  of 
three  inches  from  each  other,  had  been  shivered  to  pieces  against 
the  bones, 

"In  the  meanwhile,  our  temerity,  which  chiefly  proceeded  from 
hurry  and  ignorance,  was  considered  by  the  Hottentots  as  a  proof 
of  spirit  and  intrepidity  hardly  to  be  equalled;  on  which  account, 
from  that  instant  they  appeared  to  entertain  an  infinitely  higher 
opinion  of  our  courage  than  they  had  ever  done  before.  Severa. 
of  our  Hottentots  now  came  to  us,  and  threw  stones  down  into 
the  dale,  though  without  success,  in  order  to  find  out,  by  the  beljow- 
ings  of  the  beast,  whither  he  had  retired  :  afterwards,  however 
he  se"emed  to  have  plucked  up  his  courage,  for  he  came  up  at 
last  out  of  the  dale  of  his  own  accord,  to  the  skirts  of  the  wood, 
and  placed  himself  so  as  to  have  a  full  view  of  us  on  the  spot, 
where  we  were  resting  ourselves  somewhat  higher  up :  his  inten- 
tion was,  in  all  probability,  and  in  the  opinion  of  old  sportsmen, 
to  revenge  himself  on  us,  if  we  had  not  happened  to  see  him  in 
time,  and  fired  at  him  directly. 

"  What,  perhaps,  put  a  stop  to  his  boldness  was,  that  we  stood 
on  higher  ground  than  he  did :  for  several  veteran  sportsmen  have 
assured  me  of  it  as  a  fact,  that  they  know  from  experience,  that 
the  buffaloes  do  not  willingly  venture  to  ascend  any  hill  or  emi- 
nence in  order  to  attack  any  one.  The  third  shot,  which  after- 
wards was  observed  to  have  entered  at  the  belly,  was  fatal.  This 


HUNTING   THE   BUFFALO.  45 


occasioned  the  buffalo  to  take  himself  down  again  h-t-.  the  vale, 
dyeing  the  ground  and  bushes  all  the  way  he  went  With  hia 
blood. 

"  Though  still  hot  upon  the  chase,  yet  we  advanced  with  the 
greatest  caution,  accompanied  by  two  of  our  Hottentots,  through 
the  thin  and  more  pervious  part  of  the  wood,  where  the  buffalo 
had  taken  refuge.  He  was  advancing  again  to  attack  some  of  us, 
when  Mr.  Immelman,  from  the  place  where  he  was  posted,  shot 
him  in  the  lungs.  Notwithstanding  this,  he  had  still  strength 
enough  left  to  make  a  circuit  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  paces, 
before  we  heard  him  fall;  during  his  fall,  and  before  he  died,  he 
bellowed  in  a  most  stupendous  manner.  And  this  death-song  of 
his,  inspired  every  one  of  us  with  joy,  on  account  of  the  victory 
we  had  gained ;  and  so  thoroughly  steeled  is  frequently  the 
human  heart  against  the  sufferings  of  the  brute  creation,  that-we 
hastened  forwards,  to  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  buffalc 
struggle  with  the  pangs  of  death.  1  happened  to  be  the  foremost 
amongst  them  ;  but  think  it  impossible  for  anguish,  accompanied 
by  a  savage  fierceness,  to  be  painted  in  stronger  colors  than  they 
Were  in  the  countenance  of  this  buffalo.  I  was  within  ten  steps 
of  him  when  he  perceived  me,  and  bellowing  raised  himself 
suddenly  again  on  his  legs.  I  had  reason  to  believe  since,  that  I 
was  at  the  time  very  much  frightened;  for  before  I  could  well 
take  my  aim,  I  fired  off"  my  gun,  and  the  shot  missed  the  whole 
of  his  huge  body,  and  only  hit  him  in  the  hind  legs,  as  we  after- 
wards discovered  by  the  size  of  the  balls.  Immediately  upon 
this  I  flew  away  like  lightning,  in  order  to  look  out  for  some  tree  to 
climb  up  into.  Notwithstanding  the  tedious  prolixity  it  might 
occasion  me  to  be  guilty  of,  I  thought  the  best  and  readiest  method 
of  giving  my  reader  an  idea  of  the  nature  of  this  animal,  and  of 
the  method  of  hunting  it,  as  well  as  of  oth^r  contingent  circurr- 
stances,  would  be  to  adduce  an  instance  or  two,  of  what  occuired 
during  the  chase." 


16 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


THE    CHAMOIS. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

HUNTING   THE   CHAMOIS. 


HE  Chamois,  or  Alpine  Goat, 
formerly  considered  as  the 
parent  of  the  domestic  breed, 
has  by  later  naturalists  been 
placed  as  a  distinct  species. 
In  its  general  features,  how- 
ever, with  the  exception  of 
the  horns,  which,  of  a  beau- 
tiful black,  rise  between  the 
eyes,  bend  backward,  and 
terminate  in  hooks,  and  the 
want  of  a  beard,  the  chamois 
greatly  resembles  the  tame 
goat.  Its  height  is  about 
two  feet  three  or  four 
inches :  its  hair  is  short  like 
that  of  the  do*>.  of  pn 


HUNTING    THE   CHAMOIS.  47 


color,  varying  to  blackish-brown.  Its  habitations  are  among  the 
Alps,  the  Pyrenees,  and  the  lofty  mountains  of  Asia,  border  Mg  on 
the  regions  of  everlasting  ice  and  snow.  It  is  agreeable,  lively, 
and  active  beyond  expression:  its  senses  are  amazingly  acute,  and 
by  the  scent,  it  is  said,  will  discover  the  hunter  at  half  a  league's 
distance.  They  feed  in  flocks  of  nearly  twenty  or  more ;  and 
those  at  the  outskirts,  or  perhaps  a  single  sentinel  when  they  per- 
ceive danger,  give  notice  to  the  rest  by  a  kind  of  hissing  noise, 
shrill  at  the  beginning,  and  deeper  towards  the  close,  during  which 
they  appear  in  the  utmost  agitation,  striking  the  ground  with  their 
fore  feet,  bounding  from  rock  to  rock,  turning,  stopping,  and  looking, 
till  the  approach  of  the  enemy  is  ascertained,  when  off  the  whole 
fly  like  the  wind,  and  defy  pursuit  amid  the  awful  chasms  of  the 
glaciers,  on  the  stupendous  precipices  of  the  rocks ;  for  their  spring 
is  astonishing,  and  they  will  throw  themselves  safely  down  an 
almost  perpendicular  height  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet.  It  drinks 
little,  and  is  rather  fastidious  in  its  feeding,  picking  out  buds  and 
flowers  and  the  tenderest  of  the  aromatic  herbs,  which  gives  to  its 
flesh  a  delicious  flavor. 

From  the  description  given  by  M.  Saussure,  in  his  Journey  on 
the  Alps,  Vol.  3,  no  species  of  hunting  appears  to  be  attended 
with  more  danger  than  this  ;  yet  the  inhabitants  of  Chamouni  »re 
extremely  addicted  to  it. 

The  Chamois  hunter  generally  sets  out  in  the  night,  that  h« 
may  reach  by  break  of  day  the  most  elevated  pastures  where  the 
goats  come  to  feed,  before  they  arrive.  As  soon  as  he  discovers 
the  place  where  he  hopes  to  find  them,  he  surveys  it  with  his 
glass.  If  he  finds  none  of  them  there,  he  proceeds,  always 
ascending :  whenever  he  descries  any,  he  endeavors  to  get  above 
them,  either  by  stealing  along  some  gully,  or  getting  behind  some 
rock  or  eminence.  When  he  is  near  enough  to  distinguish  their 
horns,  which  is  the  mark  by  which  he  judges  of  the  distance,  he 
rests  his  piece  on  a  rock,  takes  his  aim  with  great  composure,  and 
rarely  misses.  This  piece  is  a  rifle-barrelled  carabine,  into  which 
the  ball  is  thrust,  and  these  carabines  often  contain  two  charges. 


48  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


ihoigh  they  uave  but  one  barrel ;  the  charges  are  put  one  above 
another,  and  are  fired  in  succession.  If  he  has  wounded  the 
chamois,  he  runs  to  his  prey,  and  for  security  he  hamstrings  it ; 
then  he  considers  his  way  home  :  if  the  road  is  difficult,  he  skins 
the  chamois,  and  leaves  the  carcase  ;  but,  if  it  is  practicable,  he 
throws  the  animal  on  his  shoulders,  and  bears  him  to  his  village, 
though  at  a  great  distance,  and  often  over  frightful  precipices  ;  he 
feeds  his  family  with  the  flesh,  which  is  excellent,  especially  when 
the  creature  is  young,  and  he  dries  the  skin  for  sale.  But  if,  as 
is  the  common  case,  the  vigilant  chamois  perceives  the  approach 
of  the  hunter,  he  immediately  takes  flight  among  the  glaciers, 
through  the  snows,  and  over  the  most  precipitous  rocks. 

It  is  particularly  difficult  to  get  near  these  animals  when  there 
are  several  together;  for  then  one  of  them,  while  the  rest  are 
feeding,  stands  as  a  sentinel  on  the  point  of  some  rock  that  com- 
mands a  view  of  the  avenues  leading  to  the  pasture ;  and  as  soon 
as  he  perceives  any  object  of  alarm,  he  utters  a  sort  of  hiss,  at 
which  the  others  instantly  gather  round  him  to  judge  for  them- 
selves of  the  nature  of  the  danger ;  if  it  is  a  wild  beast,  or  hunter, 
the  most  experienced  puts  himself  at  the  head  of  the  flock ;  and 
away  they  fly,  ranged  in  a  line,  to  the  most  inaccessible  retreats. 
It  is  here  that  the  fatigues  of  the  hunter  begin :  instigated  by  his 
passion  for  the  chase,  he  is  insensible  to  danger ;  he  passes  over 
snows,  without  thinking  of  the  horrid  precipices  they  conceal ;  he 
entangles  himself  among  the  most  dangerous  paths,  and  bounds 
from  rock  to  rock,  without  knowing  how  he  is  to  return. 

Night  often  surprises  him  in  the  midst  of  his  pursuit ;  but  he 
does  not  for  that  reason  abandon  it ;  he  hopes  that  the  same  cause 
will  arrest  the  flight  of  the  chamois,  and  that  ho  will  next  morning 
overtake  them.  Thus  he  passes  the  night,  not  at  the  foot  of  a 
tree,  like  the  hunter  ot  the  plain  ;  not  in  a  grotw,  softly  reclined 
on  a  bed  of  moss,  but  at  the  foot  of  a  rock,  and  often  on  the  bare 
points  of  shattered  fragments,  without  the  smallest  shelter.  There, 
all  alone,  without  fire,  without  light,  he  draws  from  his  bag  a  bit 
af  cheese,  with  a  morsel  of  oaten  bread,  which  mak  e  his  common 


HUNTING   THE   CHAMOIS.  49 


food ;  bread  so  dry  that  he  is  sometimes  obliged  to  break  it 
between  two  stones,  or  with  the  hatchet  he  carries  with  him  to 
cut  out  steps  in  the  ice. 

Having  thus  made  his  solitary  and  frugal  repast,  he  puts  a  stone 
below  his  head  for  a  pillow,  and  goes  to  sleep,  dreaming  on  the 
route  which  the  chamois  may  have  taken.    But  soon  he  is  awakened 
by  the  freshness  of  the  morning;  he  gets  up,  benumbed  with  cold; 
surveys  the  precipices  which  he  must  traverse  to  overtake  his 
game ;  drinks  a  little  brandy,  of  which  he  is  always  provided  with 
a  small  portion,  and  sets  out  to  encounter  new  dangers.     Hunters 
sometimes  remain   in  these   solitudes  for  several   days  together, 
during  which  time  their  families,  their  unhappy  wives  in  particular 
axperience  a  state  of  the  most  dreadful  anxiety:  they  dare  not  go 
to  rest  for  fear  of  seeing  their  husbands  appear  to  them  in  a  dream ; 
for  it  is  a  received  opinion  in  the  country,  that  when  a  man  has 
perished,  either  in  the  snow,  or  on  some  unknown  rock,  he  appears 
by  night  to  the  person  he  holds  most  dear,  describes  the  place  that  • 
proved  fatal  to  him,  and  requests  the  performance  of  the  last  duties 
to  his  corpse.     "After  this  picture  (says  M.  Saussure,)  of  the  life 
which  the  chamois  hunters  lead,  could  one  imagine  that  this  chase 
would  be  the  object  of  a  passion  absolutely  unsurmountable  ?     I 
knew  a  well-made,  handsome  man,  who  had  just  married  a  beau- 
tiful  woman: — 'My   grand-father,  said   he   to   me,  lost   his    life 
in  the  chase ;  so  did  my  father ;  and  I  am  persuaded,  that  I  too 
shall  die  in  the  same' manner ;  this  bag  which  I  carry  with  me 
when  I  hunt,  I  call  my  grave-clothes,  for  I  am  sure  I  will  have  no 
other ;  yet  if  you  should  offer  to  make  my  fortune  on  condition  of 
abandoning  the  chase  of  the  chamois,  I  could  not  consent.     I  made 
some  excursions  on  the  Alps  with«  this  man;    his  strength  and 
address  were  astonishing ;  but  his  temerity  was  greater  than  his 
strength ;  and  I  have  heard,  that  two  years  afterwards,  he  missed 
a  step  on  the  brink  of  a  precipice,  and  met  with  the  fate  he  had 
expected.' 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER  X. 

HUNTING   THE   FOX. 

OX-HUNTING  is  so  common  and  has  so 
long  prevailed  in  England,  that  the  term 
"fox-hunting  squire"  was  supposed  to 
be  sufficiently  accurate  for  describing  an 
English  country  gentleman  until  a  recent 
period.  It  was  the  universal  passion  of 
the  English  rural  gentry  of  the  last 
century;  and  it  is  still  regarded  among 
a  certain  class  as  by  far  the  most  delight- 
ful and  exciting  of  all  the  sports  of  the  field. 

Our  old  friend  already  quoted  treats  the  art  and  mystery  of  Fox 
Hunting  with  his  accustomed  gravity  and  earnestness. 

Hunting  the  fox,  he  says,  makes  a  very  pleasant  exercise,  and 
is  either  above  or  below  ground. 

Hunting  the  fox  above  ground.  To  hunt  a  fox  with  hounds, 
you  must  draw  about  gr.oves,  thickets,  and  bushes  near  villages 
When  you  find  one,  stop  up  his  earth  the  night  before  you  design 
to  hunt,  about  midnight ;  while  he  is  out  to  prev.  This  ma\  lie 


HUNTING  THE  FOX.  61 


done  by  laying  two  white  sticks  across  in  his  way,  which  he  will 
imagine  to  be  some  trap  kid  for  him;  or  they  may  be  stopped  up 
with  black  thorns  and  earth  mixed.  The  pack  should  consist  of 
twenty-five  couple.  The  hounds  should  be  at  the  cover  at  sun- 
rising.  The  huntsman  should  then  throw  in  his  hounds  as  quietly 
as  he  can,  and  let  the  two  whippers-in  keep  wide  of  him  on  either 
hand ;  so  that  a  single  hound  may  not  escape  them ;  let  them  be 
attentive  to  this  halloo,  and  let  the  sportsmen  be  ready  to  encourage 
or  rate  as  that  directs.  The  fox  ought  on  no  account  to  be  hallooed 
too  soon,  as  in  that  case  he  would  most  certainly  turn  back,  and 
spoil  all  the  sport. 

Two  things  Mr.  Beckford  particularly  recommends,  viz.,  the 
making  all  the  hounds  steady,  and  making  them  all  draw. 
fe  Many  huntsmen,  (says  he)  are  fond  of  having  them  at  their 
horse's  heels  ;  but  they  never  can  get  so  well  or  soon  together,  as 
when  they  spread  the  cover;  besides,  I  have  often  known,  when 
there  have  only  b<:en  a  few  finders,  that  they  have  found  their  fox 
gone  down  the  wind,  and  been  heard  of  no  more  that  day. 
Much  depends  upon  the  first  finding  of  your  fox ;  for  I  look  upou 
a  fox  well  found  to  be  half  killed.  I  think  people  are  generally 
in  too  great  a  hurry  on  this  occasion. 

"There  are  but  few  instances  where  sportsmen  are  not  too 
noisy,  and  too  fond  of  encouraging  their  hounds,  which  seldom  do 
their  business  so  well  as  when  little  is  said  to  them.  The  hurt.s- 
man  ought  to  begin  with  his  foremost  hounds,  and  keep  as  cl  .-e 
to  them  as  he  can.  No  hound  can  then  slip  down  the  wind  and 
get  out  of  his  hearing ;  he  will  also  see  how  far  they  carry  the 
scent,  a  necessary  requisite  ;  for  without  it  he  can  never  make 
cast  with  any  certainty." 

You  will  find  it  not  less  necessary  for  your  huntsman  to  be 
active  in  pressing  his  hounds  forward  when  the  scent  is  good,  than 
to  be  prudent  in  not  hurrying  them  beyond  u  when  it  is  bad.  It 
is  his  business  to  be  ready  at  all  times,  to  lend  them  that  assistance 
which  they  so  frequently  need,  and  which,  ,vhen  they  are  first  at 
&  fault  is  then  most  critical.  A  hound  at  that  time  will  exert  him- 
self most ;  he  afterwards  cools  and  becomes  more  indifferent  about 


52  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


his  game.  Those  huntsmen  who  do  not  get  forward  enough  to 
take  advantage  of  this  eagerness  and  impetuosity,  and  direct  i\ 
properly,  seldom  know  enough  of  hunting,  to  be  of  much  use  to 
hem  .afterwards. 

Though  a  huntsman  cannot  be  too  fond  of  hunting,  a  whipper- 
in  easily  may.  His  business  will  seldom  allow  him  to  be  forward 
enough  with  the  hounds  to  see  much  of  the  sport.  His  only 
thought  therefore  should  be  to  keep  the  hounds  together,  and  to 
contribute  as  much  as  he  can,  to  the  killing  of  the  fox  ;  keeping 
the  hounds  together  is  the  surest  means  to  make  them  steady 
When  left  to  themselves  they  seldom  refuse  any  blood  they  can 
get;  they  become  conceited;  learn  to  tie  upon  the  scent;  and 
besides  this,  they  frequently  get  a  trick  of  hunting  by  themselves, 
and  are  seldom  good  for  much  afterwards.  Every  country  is 
soon  known ;  and  nine  foxes  out  of  ten,  with  the  wind  in  the 
same  quarter,  will  follow  the  same  track.  It  is  easy  therefore  for 
the  whipper-in  to  cut  short,  and  catch  the  hounds  again. 

With  a  high  scent  you  cannot  push  on  hounds  too  much. 
Screams  keep  the  fox  forward,  at  the  same  time  that  they  keep 

the  hounds  together,  or  let  in 
the  tail-hounds  :  they  also  en- 
liven the  sport ;  and,  if  dis- 
cretely used,  are  always  of 
service ;  but  in  cover  they 
should  be  given  with  the 
greatest  caution.  Halloos  sel- 
dom do  any  hurt  when  you 
are  running  up  the  wind,  for 
then  none  but  the  tail-hounds  can  hear  you  :  when  you  are  run- 
ning down  the  wind,  you  should*  halloo  no  more  than  may  be 
necessary  to  bring  the  tail  hounds  forward  ;  for  a  hound  that 
knows  his  business  seldom  wants  encouragement  when  he  is 
upon  a  scent. 

Most  fox  hunters,  wish  to  see  their  hounds  run  in  a  good'  style 
A  pack  of  harriers,  if  they  have  time,  may  kill  a  fox,  but  I  defy 
them  to  kiJl  him  in  the  style  in  which  he  ought  to  be  killed; 


HUNTING   THE   FOX.  53 


they  must  hunt  him  down.  Lf  you  intend  to  tire  him  ov.t,  you 
must  expect  to  be  tired  also  yourself ;  I  never  wish  a  chase  to  be 
less  than  one  hour,  or  to  exceed  two :  it  is  sufficiently  long  if 
properly  followed ;  it  will  seldom  be  longer,  unless  there  be  a 
fault  somewhere  :  either  in  the  day,  the  huntsman,  or  the  hounds. 
Changing  from  the  hunted  fox  to  a  fresh  one,  is  as  bad  an  acci- 
dent as  can  happen  to  a  pack  of  fox-hounds,  and  requires  all  the 
ingenuity  and  observation  that  man  is  capable  of,  to  guard  against 
it.  Could  a  fox  hound  distinguish  a  hunted  fox,  as  the  deer 
hound  does  a  deer  that  is  blown,  fox  hunting  would  then  be 
perfect. 

A  huntsman  should  always  listen  to  his  hounds  while  they  are 
running  in  cover ;  he  should  be  particularly  attentive  to  the  head- 
most hounds,  and  he  should  be  constantly  on  his  guard  against  a 
skirter ;  for  if  there  be  two  scents,  he  must  be  wrong.  Generally 
speaking,  the  best  scent  is  least  likely  to  be  that  of  the  hunted 
fox  ;  and  as  a  fox  seldom  suffers  hounds  to  run  up  to  him  as  long 
as  he  is  able  to  prevent  it ;  so,  nine  times  out  of  ten,  when  foxes 
are  hallooed  early  in  the  day,  they  are  all  fresh  foxes.  The 
hounds  most  likely  to  be  right  are  the  hard-running  line-hunting 
ones  ;  or  such  as  the  huntsman  knows  had  the  lead  before  there 
arose  any  doubt  of  changing. 

With  regard  to  the  fox,-  if  he  break  over  and  open  country,  it 
is  no  sign  that  he  is  hard  run  ;  for  they  seldom  at  any  time  will 
do  that  unless  they  are  a  great  way  before  the  hounds.  Also  if 
he  run  up  the  wind  ;  they  seldom  or  never  do  that  when  they 
have  been  long  hunted  and  grow  weak  ;  and  when  they  run  their 
soil,  that  also  may  direct  him.  All  this  requires  a  good  ear  and 
nice  observation ;  and  indeed  in  that  consists  the  chief  excellence 
f  a  huntsman. 

When  the  hounds  divide  in  two  parts,  the  whipper-in,  in  stop- 
ping, must  attend  to  the  huntsman,  and  wait  for  his  halloo,  before 
he  attempts  to  stop  either ;  for  want  of  proper  management  in 
this,  I  have  known.the  hounds  stopped  aj  both  places,  and  both 
foxes  lost.  If  they  have  many  scents,  and  it  is  uncertain  which 
vs  the  hunted  foi  let  him  stop  those  that  are  farthest  down  the 


61  HUNTING     ADVENTURES.. 


wind  :  as  they  can  hear  the  others,  and  will  reach  them  soonest ; 
in  such  a  case  there  will  be  little  use  in  stopping  those  that  are 
up  the  wind.  When  hounds  are  at  a  check,  let  every  one  be 
silent  and  stand  still.  Whippers-in  are  frequently  at  this  time 
coming  on  with  the  tail  hounds.  They  should  never  halloo  to 
them  when  the  hounds  are  at  fault ;  the  least  thing  does  them 
harm  at  such  a  time,  but  a  halloo  more-  than  any  other.  The 
huntsman,  at  a  check,  had  better  let  his  hounds  alone  ;  or  content 
himself  with  holding  them  forward,  without  taking  them  off  their 
aoses.  Should  they  be  at  fault;  afttw  having  made  their  own  cast, 
( which  the  huntsman  should  always  first  encourage  them  to  do)  it 
is  then  his  business  to  assist  them  further ;  but,  except  in  some 
particular  instances,  I  never  approve  of  their  being  cast  as  long  as 
they  are  inclined  to  hunt. 

The  first  cast  I  bid  my  huntsman  make  is  generally  a  regulai 
ane,  not  choosing  to  rely  entirely  on  his  judgment;  if  that  should 
not  succeed,  he  is  then  at  liberty  to  follow  his  own  opinion,  and 
proceed  as  observation  or  genius  may  direct.  When  such  a  cast 
is  made,  I  like  to  see  some  mark  of  good  sense  and  meaning  in 
it ;  whether  down  the  wind,  or  towards  some  likely  cover  or 
strong  earth.  However,  as  it  is  at  best  uncertain,  I  always  wish 
to  see  a  regular  cast  before  I  see  a  knowing  one  ;  which,  as  a  last 
resource,  should  not  be  called  forth  until  it  be  wanted.  The  letting 
hounds  alone  is  but  a  negative  goodness  in  a  huntsman ;  whereas 
this  last  shows  real  genius ;  and  to  be  perfect,  it  must  be  born 
with  him.  There  is  a  fault,  however,  which  a  knowing  hunts- 
man is  too  apt  to  commit :  he  will  find  a  fresh  fox,  and  then  claim 
the  merit  of  having  recovered  the  hunted  one.  It  is  always  dan- 
gerous to  throw  hounds  into  a  cover  to  retrieve  a  lost  scent;  anc 
unless  they  hit  him  in,  is  not  to  be  depended  o». 

Gentlemen,  when  hounds  are  at  fault,  are  too  apt  themselves  to 
prolong  it.  They  should  always  stop  their  horses  some  distance 
behind  the  hounds  ;  and  if  it  be  possible  to  remain  silent,  this  is 
the  time.  They  should  be  careful  not  to  rid"C  before  the  hounds 
or  over  the  scent ;  nor  should  they  ever  meet  a  hound  in  the  face 
unless  to  stop  him.  Should  you  at  any  time  be  before  the 


HUNTING    THE    FOX.  55 


hounds,  turn  your  horse's  head  the  way  they  are  going,  get  out 
of  their  track,  and  let  them  pass  by  you.  In  dry  weather,  and 
particularly  in  heathy  countries,  foxes  will  run  the  roads.  If 
gentlemen  at  such  times  will  ride  close  upon  the  hounds,  they 
may  drive  them  miles  without  any  scent.  High  mettled  fox- 
hounds are  seldom  inclined  to  stop  whilst  horses  are  close  at  theiT 
heels.  No  one  should  ever  ride  in  a  direction  which,  if  persisted 
in,  would  carry  him  amongst  the  hounds,  unless  he  be  at  a  great 
distance  behind  them. 

The  first  moment  that  hounds  are  at  fault  is  a  critical  one  for 
the  sport  people,  who  should  then  be  very  attentive.  Those  who 
look  forward  may  perhaps  see  the  fox,  or  the  running  of  sheep, 
or  the  pursuit  of  crows,  may  give  them  some  tidings  of  him 
Those  who  listen  may  sometimes  take  a  hint  which  way  he  is 
gone  from  the  chattering  of  a  magpie  ;  or  perhaps  be  at  certainty 
from  a  distant  halloo ;  nothing  that  can  give  any  intelligence  at 
such  a  time  ought  to  be  neglected. 

Gentlemen  are  too  apt  t')  ride  all  together :  were  they  to  spread 
more,  they  might  sometimes  be  of  service  ;  particularly  those 
who,  from  a  knowledge  of  the  sport,  keep  down  the  wind;  it 
would  then  be  difficult  for  either  hounds  or  fox  to  escape  their 
observation.  You  should,  however,  be  cautious  how  you  go  to  a 
halloo.  The  halloo  itself  must  in  a  great  measure  direct  you  ; 
and  though  it  afford  no  certain  rule,  yet  you  may  frequently  guess 
whether  it  can  be  depended  upon  or  not. 

At  the  sowing  time,  when  boys  are  keeping  off  the  birds,  you 
will  sometimes  be  deceived  by  their  halloo  ;  so  that  it  is  best, 
when  you  are  in  doubt,  to  send  a  whipper-in  to  knuw  ihe  cer- 
tainty of  the  matter.  Hounds  ought  not  to  be  cast  so  long  as  they 
are  able  to  hunt.  It  is  a  common  idea,  that  a  hunted  fox  never 
stops ;  but  Mr.  Beckford  informs  us  that  he  has  known  them  stop 
even  in  wheel-ruts  in  the  middle  of  a  down,  and  get  up  in  the 
middle  of  the  hounds.  The  greatest  danger  of  losing  a  fox  is  at 
the  first  finding  him,  and  when  he  is  sinking;  at  both  which 
times  he  will  run  short,  and  the  eagerness  of  the  hounds  will  fre 
^uently  carry  them  beyond  the  scent. 


56  HvJNTlKG     ADVENTURES. 


When  a  fox  is  first  found,  every  one  ought  to  keep  behind  the 
hounds  till  they  are  well  settled  to  the  scent ;  and  when  the 
hounds  are  catching  him,  they  ought  to  be  as  silent  as  possible  ; 
and  eat  him  eagerly  after  he  is  caught.  In  some  places  they  have 
a  method  of  treeing  him  ;  that  is,  throwing  him  across  the  branch 
of  a  tree,  and  suffering  the  hounds  to  bay  at  him  for  some  minutes 
before  he  is  thrown  amcngst  them ;  the  intention  of  which  is  to 
make  them  more  eager,  and  to  let  in  the  tail-hounds  ;  during  this 
mterval  also  they  recover  their  wind,  and  are  apt  to  eat  him  more 
readily.  Our  author,  however,  advises  not  to  keep. him  too  long, 
as  he  supposes  that  the  hounds  have  not  any  appetite  to  eat  him 
longer  than  while  they  are  angry  with  him. 


yt 

" 


Hunting  the  fox  under  ground.  In  case  a  fox  escape  so  as  to 
earth,  countrymen  must  be  got  together  with  shovels,  spades,  pick- 
axes, &c.,  to  dig  him  out,  if  they  think  the  earth  not  too  great. 
They  make  their  earths  as  near  as  they  can  in  ground  that  is 
hard  to  lig,  as  in  clay,  stony  ground,  or  amongst  the  roots  of 
trees  ;  and  their  earths  have  commonly  but  one  hole,  and  that  is 
straight  and  a  long  way  in  before  you  come  at  their  couch. 
Sometimes  they  take  possession  of  a  badger's  old  burrow,  which 
has  a  variety  of  chambers,  holes,  and  angles. 

To  facilitate  this  way  of  hunting  the  fox,  the  huntsman  must 
be  provided  with  one  or  two  terriers  "  to  put  into  the  earth  after 
him,  that  is,  to  fix  him  into  an  angle  ;  for  the  earth  often  consists 
of  many  angles  ;  the  use  of  the  terrier  is  to  know  where  he  lies  ; 
for  as  soon  as  he  finds  him,  he  continues  baying  or  barking,  so 
Shat  which  way  the  noise  is  heard  that  way  dig  to  him.  Youi 


HUNTING   THE   FOX. 


57 


terriers  must  be  garnished  with  bells  hung  in  collars,  to  make  the 
fox  bolt  the  sooner  ;  besides,  the  collars  will  be  some  small  defenc« 
to  the  terriers.  The  instruments  to  dig  withal  are  these  ;  a  sharp« 
pointed  spade,  which  serves  to  begin  the  trench  where  the  ground 
is  hardest,  and  broader  tools  will  not  so  well  enter;  the  round, 
hollowed  spade,  which  is  useful  to  dig  among  roots,  having  very 
sharp  edges;  the  broad,  flat  spade  to  dig  withal,  when  the. trench 
has  been  pretty  well  opened,  and  the  ground  softer ;  mattock  i 
and  pickaxes  to  dig  in  hard  ground,  where  a  spade  will  do  but 
little  service ;  the  coal-rake  to  cleanse  the  hole,  and  to  keep  it 
from  stopping  up  ;  clamps,  wherewith  you  may  take  either  fox  or 
badger  out  alive  to  make  some  sport  with  afterwards.  And  it 
would  be  very  convenient  to  have  a  pail  of  water  to  refresh  your 
f*rners  with,  after  they  have  come  out  of  the  earth  to  take  breath 


AN   ENGLISH   HUNTS*. 


58 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER  XL 

HUNTING  THE  HARE. 

S  of  al)  chases,  the  .aare  makes  the 
greatest  pastime,  so  it  gives  no  little 
pleasure- to  see  the  craft  of  this  small 
animal  for  her  self-preservation.  If  it 
be  rainy,  the  hare  usually  takes  to  the 
high- ways ;  and  if  she  comes  to  the  side 
of  a  young  grove,  or  spring,  she  seldom 
enters,  but  squats  down  till  the  hounds 
have  overshot  her;  and  then  she  will 
return  the  way  she  came,  for  fear  of  the  wet  and  dew  that  hangs 
on  the  boughs.  In  this  case,  the  huntsman  ought  to  stay  one  hun- 
dred paces  before  he  comes  to  the  wood-side,  by  which  means  he 
will  perceive  whether  she 'return  as  aforesaid;  which  if  she  do, 
he  must  haloo  in  his  hounds;  :md  call  them  back;  and  that 
presently,  that  the  hounds  may  nut  think  it  the  counter  she  came 
first 


HUNTING   THE    HARE.  61 


A   HARE   SITTING   IN   HER   FORK 

The  ne*.  thing  to  be  observed,  is  the  place  where  the  hare  sits 
and  upon  what  wind  she  makes  her  form,  either  upon  the  North 
or  South  wind:  she  will  not  willingly  run  into  the  wind,  but  upon 
aside,  or  down  the  wind ;  but  if  she  form  in  the  water,  it  is  a  sign 
she  is  foul  and  measled ;  if  you  hunt  such  a  one,  have  a  special 
regard  all  the  day  to  the  brook-sides ;  for  there,  and  near  plashes 
she  will  make  all  her  crossings,  doublings,  &c. 

Some  hares  are  so  crafty,  that  as  soon  as  they  hear  the  sound 
of  a  hofn,  they  instantly  start  out  of  their  form,  though  it  were  at  the 
distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and  go  and  swim  in  some  pool,  and 
rest  upon  some  rush  bed  in  the  midst  of  it.  Such  will  not  stir 
thence  till  they  hear  the  sound  of  the  horn,  and  then  they  start 
out  again,  and  swimming  to  land,  and  standing  up  before  the  hounds 
for  hours  before  they  can  kill  her,  swimming  and  using  all  sub- 
tleties and  crossings  in  the  water.  Nay,  such  is  the  subtlety  of  a 
hare,  that  sometimes  after  she  has  been  hunted  three  hours,  she 
will  start  a  fresh  hare,  and  squat  in  the  same  form.  Others,  after 
being  hunted  a  considerable  time,  will  creep  under  the  door  of  a 
sheep-cot,  and  hide  themselves  among  the  sheep  ;  or  when  they 
have  been  hard  hunted,  will  run  in  among  a  flock  of  sheep,  and 
will  by  no  means  be  gotten  out  till  the  hounds  are  coupled  up,  and 
the  sheep  driven  into  their  pens.  Some  of  them  will  take  the 
ground  like  a  coney,  which  is  called  going  to  the  vault  Some 
will  go  up  one  side  of  the  hedge  and  come  down  the  other,  the  thick- 
•ess  of  the  hedge  being  the  only  distance  between  the  courses. 


62  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


A  hare  that  has  been  sorely  hunted,  has  got  upon  i  ^uicksel 
hedge,  and  run  a  good  way  upon  the  top  thereof,  and  then  leaped 
off  upon  the  ground.  And  they  frequently  betake  themselves  to 
furze  bushes,  and  leap  from  one  to  the  other,  whereby  the  hounds 
are  frequently  in  default.  Having  found  where  a  large  hare  has 
relieved  in  some  pasture  or  corn  field,  you  must  then  consider  the 
season  of  the  year,  and  the  weather:  for  if  it  be  in  spring  or  sum- 
m<;r,  a  hare  will  not  then  set  in  bushes,  because  they  are  often  in 
fested  with  pismires,  snakes,  and  adders;  but  will  sel  in  corn  fields, 
and  open  places.  In  winter,  they  set  near  towns  ai.d  villages,  in 
tufts  of  thorns  and  brambles,  especially  when  the  wind  is  northerly 
or  southerly.  According  to  the  season  and  nature  of  the  place 
where  the  hare  is  accustomed  to  sit,  there  beat  with  your  hounds, 
and  start  her  ;  which  is  better  sport  than  trailing  her  from  her  relief 
to  her  form.  After  the  hare  has  been  started  and  is  on  foot,  step 
in  where  you  saw  her  pass,  and  halloo  in  your  hounds,  until  they 
have  all  undertaken  it  and  go  on  with  it  in  full  cry :  then  recheat 
to  them  with  your  horn,  following  fair  and  softly  at  first,  making 
not  too  much  noise  either  with  horn  or  voice ;  for  at  the  first,  hounds 
are  apt  to  overshoot  the  chase  through  too  much  heat.  But  when 
they  have  run  an  hour,  and  you  see  the  hounds  are  well  in  with 
it,  and  stick  well  upon  it,  then  you  may  come 'in  nearer  with  them 
because  their  heat  will  thon  be  cooled,  and  they  will  hunt  more 
gobe  rly . 


HUNTING   THE   STAG. 


HUNTING   TrjB   STAG. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

HUNTING  THE  STAG. 
TAG  hunting  has  long  been  th'  favorite 
sport  of  royal  and  noble  hi.  tters  in 
Europe.  The  ancient  Romans  and 
Greeks  practised  it,  as  may  be  shown 
by  many  passages  in  the  classics.  In 
the  middle  ages  it  was  one  of  the  chief 
amusements  of  the  hardy  barons  ;  and  it 
is  still  practised  in  Britain,  as  well  as  in 
France  and  other  continental  countries, 
and  occasionally  in  the  United  States. 

We  quote  from  our  former  authority  the  directions  to  the  hunter 
for  this  sport. 

Gesner,  speaking  of  hart-hunting,  observes,  that  this  wild,  and 
subtle  beast,  frequently  deceives  its  hunter  by  windings  and  turn- 
ings. Wherefore  the  prudent  hunter  must  train  his  dogs  with 
words  of  art,  that  he  may  be  able  to  set  them  on  and  take  them  off 


66  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


at  pleasure.  First  he  should  encompass  the  beast  in  her  own  lair, 
and  so  unharbor  her  in  the  view  of  the  dogs,  that  so  they  may 
never  lose  her  slot  or  footing.  Neither  must  he  set  upon  every 
one,  either  of  the  herd  or  those  that  wander  solitary  alone,  or  a 
little  one  ;  but  partly  by  sight,  and  partly  by  their  footing  and 
fumets,  make  a  judgment  of  the  game,  and  also  observe  the  large- 
ness of  his  lair. 

The  huntsman  having  made  these  discoveries  in  order  to  the 
chase,  takes  off  the  couplings  of  the  dogs  ;  and  some  on  horseback, 
and  'others  on  foot,  follow  the  cry,  with  the  greatest  art,  observation, 
and  speed  ;  remembering  and  intercepting  him  in  his  subtle  turn- 
ings and  headings  ;  with  all  agility  leaping  hedges,  gates,  pales, 
ditches;  neither  fearing  thorns,  down  hills,  nor  woods,  but  mounting 
a  fresh  horse  if  the  first  tire.  Follow  the  largest  head  of  the  whole 
herd,  which  must  be  singled  out  of  the  chase ;  which  the  dogs 
perceiving,  must  follow,  not  following  any  other.  The  dogs  are 
animated  to  the  sport  by  the  winding  of  horns,  and  the  voices  of  the 
huntsmen.  But  sometimes  the  crafty  beast  sends  forth  his  little 
squire  to  be  sacrificed  to  the  dogs  and  hunters,  instead  of  himself, 
lying  close  the  meantime.  In  this  case,  the  huntsman  must  sound 
a  retreat,  break  off  the  dogs,  and  take  them  in,  that  is,  learn  them 
again,  until  they  be  brought  to  the  fairer  game  ;  which  riseth  with 
fear,  yet  .still  striveth  by  flight,  until  he  be  wearied  and  breathless. 
The  nobles  call  the  beast  a  wise  hart,  who,  to  avoid  all  his  enemies, 
runneth  into  the  greatest  herds,  and  so  brings  a  cloud  of  error  on 
the  dogs,  to  obstruct  their  farther  pursuit;  sometimes  also  bearing 
some  of  the  herd  into  his  footings,  so  that  he  may  the  more  easily 
escape  by  amusing  the  dogs.  Afterwards  he  betakes  himself  to 
his  heels  again,  still  running  with  the  wind,  not  only  for  the  sake 
of  refreshment,  but  also  because  he  can  thus  more  easily  hear  the 
voice  of  his  pursuers  whether  they  be  far  off,  or  near.  But  being 
again  discovered  by  the  hunters  and  sagacious  scent  of  the  dogs,  he 
flies  into  herds  of  cattle,  as  cows,  sheep,  &c.,  leaping  on  a  cow  or 
ox,  laying  the  fore-parts  of  his  body  thereon,  so  that  touching  th« 
earth  only  with  his  hinder  feet,  he  may  leave  very  little  or  no  scent 
behind.  But  their  usual  manner  is,  when  they  see  themselves 


HUNTING   THE   STAG. 


67 


STAG    DRINKING. 

hard  beset,  and  every  way  intercepted,  to  make  force  at  their  enemy 
with  their  horns,  who  first  comes  upon  him,  unless  they  be  ^  re- 
vented  by  spear  or  sword. 

When  the  beast  is  slain,  the  huntsman  windeth  the  fall  of  the 
beast ;  and  then  the  whole  company  come  up,  blowing  their  horna 
in  triumph  for  such  a  conquest;  among  whom  the  skilfullest  opens 
the  beast,  and  rewards  the  hounds  with  what  properly  belongs  to 
them,  for  their  future  encouragement,  for  which  purpose  the  hunts- 
men dip  bread  in  the  blood  of  the  beast  to  give  to  the  hounds.  It 
is  very  dangerous  to  go  into  a  hart  at  bay  ;  o,  which  there  are  two 
sorts,  one  on  land  and  the  other  in  water.  If  uie  hart  be  in  a  deep 
water,  where  you  cannot  well  come  at  him,  couple  up  your  dogs  ; 
for  should  they  continue  long  in  the  water,  it  wou,d  endanger  their 
surbating  or  foundering.  In  this  case  get  a  boat,  and  swim  to  him, 
with  a  drawn  dagger,  or  else  with  rope  that  has  a  noose,  and  throw 
it  over  his  horns  ;  for  if  the  water  be  so  deep  that  the  hart  swims, 
there  is  no  danger  in  approaching  him ;  otherwise  you  must  be 
very  cautious. 

As  to  the  land  bay,  if  a  hart  be  burnished,  consider  the  place ; 
for  if  it  be  in  a  plain  and  open  place,  where  there  is  no  wood  or 
covert,  it  is  dangerous  and  difficult  to  come  into  him  ;  but  if  he  be 


68  HUNTIEd    ADVENTURES. 


STAG   AT   BAT. 


on  the  iedge-side,  or  in  a  thicket,  then,  while  the  hart  is  staring 
on  the  aounds,  you  must  come  softly  and  covertly  behind  him,  and 
cut  his  throat.  If  you  miss  your  aim,  and  the  hart  turn  head  upon 
you,  then  take  refuge  at  some  tree ;  and  when  the  hart  is'  at  bay, 
couple  up  your  hounds  ;  and  when  you  see  the  hart  turn  head  to 
fly,  gallop  in  roundly  to  him,  and  kill  him  with  your  sword. 

The  first  ceremony,  when  the  huntsman  comes  in  to  the  death 
of  a  deer,  is  to  cry  ware  haunch,  that  the  hounds  may  not  break 
in  to  the  deer ;  Avhicr  being  done,  the  next  is  the  cutting  his  throat, 
and  blooding  the  youngest  hounds,  that  they  may  the  better  love  a 
deer,  and  learn  to  Jeap  at  his  throat :  then  the  mort  having  been 
blown,  and  all  the  company  come  in,  the  best  person,  who  hath  not 
tal»*4>  say  before,  is  to  take  up  the  knife  that  the  keeper  or  hunts- 
ms*M  is  to  lay  across  the  belly  of  the  deer,  some  holding  by  the 
forv  legs,  the  person  who  takes  say,  is  to  draw  the  edge  of  the  knife 
leisurely  along  the  middle  of  the  belly,  beginning  near  the  brisket, 
and  drawing  a  little  upon  it,  enough  in  the  length  and  depth  to  dis- 
cover how  fat  the  deer  is ;  then  he  that  is  to  break  up  the  deer,  first 
slits  the  skin  from  the  cutting  of  the  throat  downward  >,  making  the 
arber  that  so  the  ordure  may  not  break  forth,  and  then  with  her 
paunches  rewarding  the  hounds.  In  the  next  place,  he  is  to 


HUNTING   THE   STAG.  69 

presanJ  the  same  person  who  took  say,  w  a  drawn  hanger,  to 
cut  off  the  head  of  the  deer.  Which  being  done,  and  the  hounds 
rewarded,  the  conceding  ceremony  is,  if  it  be  a  stag,  to  draw  a 
triple  mort ;  and  if  a  buck,  a  double  one  ;  and  then  all  who  have 
horns,  blow  a  recheat  in  concert,  and  immediately  a  general 
whoop. 


A  HIND. 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

MODE   OF  HUNTING  THE   INDIAN   ANTELOPE. 

HUNTING  quadrupeds  with 
JjPA  the  falcon  or  hawk  ia 
much  practised  in  the  East. 
Several  species  of  birds  of 
prey  pursue  and  capture 
quadrupeds  in  their  wild 
state  ;  and  in  Persia,  India, 
and  Barbary,  falcons  and 
hawks  are  carefully  trained 
for  this  purpose.  The  Indian  Antelope  is  the  most  common 
object  of  this  sport. 

This  animal  has  long,  prominently  annulated,  tapering,  plaited, 
cylindrical  horns,  and  inhabits  Barbary.  The  hair  near  the 
'  wns  is  longer  than  on  any  other  part  of  the  body.  The  female* 


HUNTING    THE    INDIAN    ANTELOPE.  71 


wrant  horns.  M.  Hasselquist  gives  the  following  accouftt  of  this 
species:  "The  cervioapra  is  larger,  swifter,  and  wilder  than  the 
common  rock  goat,  and  can  scarcely  be  taken  without  a  falcon 
It  is  met  with  near  Aleppo.  I  have  seen  a  variety  of  this,  which 
is  common  in  the  East,  and  the  horns  appear  different ;  perhaps  it 
is  a  distinct  species.  This  animal  loves  the  smoke  of  tobacco  ; 
and,  when  caught  alive,-will  approach  the  pipe  of  the  huntsman, 
though  otherwise  more  timid  than  any  animal.  This  is  perhaps 
the  only  creature,  besides  man,  that  delights  in  the  smell  of  a 
poisonous  and  stinking  plant." 

M.  Hasselquist  describes  the  manner  of  hunting  these  animals 
in  AraHa,  as  follows  :  "  I  had  R.M  excellent  opportunity  of  seeing 
this  sport  near  Nazareth,  in  Galilee.  An  Arab,  mounted  on  a 
swift  courser,  held  the  falcon  in  his  hand,  as  huntsmen  commonly 
do ;  when  he  espied  the  rock  goat  on  the  top  of  a  mountain,  he 
Jet  loose  the  falcon,  which  flew  in  a  direct  line  like  an  arrow,  and 
attacked  the  animal ;  fixing  the  talons  of  one  of  his  feet  in  the 
cheek  of  the  creature,  and  the  other  into  his  throat,  extending  his 
wings  obliquely  over  the  animal ;  spreading  one  towards  one  of 
iti  ears,  and  the  other  to  the  opposite  hip.  The  animal  thus 
attacked,  made  a  leap  twice  the  height  of  a  man,  and  freed  him- 
self from  the  falcon  ;  but  being  wounded,  and  losing  kls  strength 
and  speed,  he  was  again  attacked  by  the  falcon;  which  fixed  the 
talons  of  both  his  feet  into  the  throat  of  the  animal,  and  held  it 
fast,  till  thvj  huntsman  coming  up,  took  it  alive,  and  cut  its  throat; 
the  falcon  drinking  the  blood  as  a  reward  for  his  labor.  A 
young  falcon  which  was  learning,  was  likewise  put  to  the  throat 
of  the  goat :  young  falcons  being  thus  taught  to  fix  their  talons  in 
the  throat  of  the  animal  as  the  most  proper  part." 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

HUNTING  THE   LION  ON   HORSEBACK. 

[/jTjHE  chase  of  the  lion  on  horseback  is  carried 
sLk  on  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  the  follow- 
ing manner,  as  described  by  Dr.  Sparrman  :  "  It 
is  only  on  the  plains  that  the  hunters  venture 
to  go  out  on  horseback  in  this  chase.  If  the  lion 
keeps  in  some  coppice  or  wood,  on  a  rising  ground,  they  endeavor 
to  teaze  it  with  dogs  till  it  comes  out ;  they  likewise  prefer  going 
together,  two  or  more  in  number,  to  be  able  to  assist  each  other,  in 
case  the  first  shot  should  not  take  effect. 

"  When  the  lion  sees  the  hunters  at  a  great  distance,  he  takes 
to  his  heels  as  fast  as  he  can,  in  order  to  get  out  of  their  sight ;  but 
if  they  chance  to  discover  him  at  a  small  distance  from  them,  he 
is  then  said  to  walk  off  in  a  surly  manner,  but  without  putting 
himself  in  the  least  hurry,  as  though  he  was  above  showing  any 
fear,  when  he  finds  himself  discovered  or  hunted.  He  is  there- 
fore reported  likewise,  when  he  finds  himself  pursued  with  vigor, 
to  be  soon  provoked  to  resistance,  or  at  least  he  disdains  any  longer 


HUNTING   THE   LION    ON    HORSEBACK.  73 


to  fly  Consequently  he  slackens  his  pace,  and  at  length  only 
slides  slowly  off,  step  by  step,  all  the  while  eying  his  pursuers 
askant ;  and  finally  makes  a  fall  stop,  and  turning  round  upon 
them,  and  at  the  same  time  giving  himself  a  shake,  roars  with  a 
short  and  sharp  tone,  to  show  his  indignation,  being  ready  to  seize 
on  them,  and  tear  them  in  pieces. 

"  This  is  the  time  for  the  hunters  to  be  on  the  spot,  or  to  get 
within  a  certain  distance  of  him,  yet  so  as  to  keep  a  proper  dis- 
tance from  each  other ;  and  he  that  is  nearest,  or  is  most  advan- 
tageously posted,  and  has  the  best  mark  of  his  heart  and  lungs, 
must  be  the  first  to  jump  off  his  horse,  and,  securing  the  bridle  by 
putting  it  round  his  arm,  discharge  his  piece  ;  then  in  an  instant 
recovering  his  seat,  must  ride  obliquely  athwart  his  companions  ; 
and  giving  his  horse  the  reins,  must  trust  entirely  to  the  speed 
and  fear  of  the  latter,  to  convey  him  out  of  the  reach  of  the  wild 
Deast,  in  case  he  has  only  wounded  him,  or  has  missed  him.  In 
either  of  these  cases,  a  fair  opportunity  presents  for  some  of  the 
other  hunters  to  jump  off  their  horses  directly,  as  they  may  then 
take  their  aim  and  discharge  their  pieces  with  greater  coolness 
and  certainty.  Should  this  shot  likewise  miss  (which,  however, 
seldom  happens),  the  third  sportsman  rides  after  the  lion,  which 
at  that  instant  is  in  pursuit  of  the  first  OT  the  second,  and,  spring- 
ing off  his  horse,  fires  his  piece,  as  soon  as  he  has  got  within  a 
proper  distance,  and  finds  a  sufficiently  convenient  part  of  the 
animal  present  itself,  especially  obliquely  from  behind.  If  now 
the  lion  turns  upon  him  too,  the  other  hunters  turn  again,  to  come 
to  his  rescue  with  the  charge  which  they  loaded  on  horseback, 
while  they  were  flying  from  the  wild  beast. 

11  No  instance  has  ever  been  known  of  any  misfortune  happen- 
ing to  the  hunters  in  chasing  the  lion  on  horseback.  The  African 
colonists,  who  have  been  born  in,  or  have  haf1  the  courage  to 
remove  into  the  more  remote  parts  of  Africa,  which  are  exposed  to 
the  ravages  of  wild  beasts,  are  sometimes  good  marksmen,  and  are 
far  from  wanting  courage." 


74 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


WOOD    CHUCK,    OR   AMERICAN    MARMOT. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

HUNTING   THE   MAKMOT. 

ARMOTS  are  poor  little  inoffensive  ani- 
mals, and.  hardly  to  be  considered  game. 
The  species  of  marmot  found  in  Switzer- 
land and  Savoy,  is  carried  about  Eu- 
rope  by  the  little  street  musicians  who 
come  from  those  countries.  The  species 
of  marmot  known  in  this  country,  is  the 
wood  chuck  or  ground  hog,  a  favorite 
object  of  pursuit  among  school  boys. 

They  are  caught  in  the  common  box  trap,  or  dug  out  from  theif 

burrows. 

Our  authority,  heretofore  quoted,  gives  the  following  account  of 

the  way  in  which  the  Marmot  is  hunted  in  Switzerland. 


HUNTING   THE   MARMOT.  f5 

Hunting  the  Marmot  is  neither  dangerous  nor  laborious,  noi 
fatal  to  any  one  but  to  the  poor  animals  that  are  the  objects  of  it. 
The  marmots  inhabit  the  high  mountains,  where  in  summer  they 
scoop  out  holes,  which  they  line  with  hay,  and  retire  to  at  the 
beginning  of  autumn  :  here  they  grow  torpid  with  the  cold,  and 
remain  in  a  sort  of  lethargy,  till  the  warmth  of  the  spring  return 
to  quicken,  their  languid  blood,  and  to  recall  them  to  life.  When 
it  is  supposed  that  they  have  retired  to  their  winter  abode,  and 
before  the  snow  has  covered  the  high  pastures  where  their  holes 
are  made,  people  go  to  unharbor  them.  They  are  found  from 
ten  to  twelve  in  the  same  hole,  heaped  upon  one  another,  and 
buried  in  the  hay.  Their  sleep  is  so  profound,  that  the  hunter 
often  puts  them  into  his  bag,  and  carries  them  home  without  their 
awaking.  The  flesh  of  the  young  is  good,  though  it  tastes  of  oil, 
and  smells  somewhat  of  musk ;  the  fat  is  used  in  the  cure  of 
rheumatisms  and  pains,  being  rubbed  on  the  parts  affected ;  but 
the  skin  is  of  little  value,  and  is  sold  for  no  more  than  five  or  six 
eols.  Notwithstanding  the  little  benefit  they  reap  from  it,  the  people 
of  Chamouni  go  in  quest  of  this  animal  with*  great  eagerness,  and 
its  numbers  accordingly  diminish  very  sensibly. 


SWISS   BIOT  WITH    HIS    MARMOT. 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

HUNTING   THE  VIRGINIAN  DEER. 

ACH  of  the  American  varieties  of 
the  deer  will  fall  under  our  notice 
in  the  progress  of  the  work.     At 
present,  before  taking  leave  of  the 
old  writer  to  whom  we  are  already 
so  much  indebted,  we  will  quote 
his  remarks  on  the  hunting  of  the 
common  Virginian  deer,  the  am 
mal  whose  flesh  is  the  venison  so 
abundant  in  our  markets. 
These  animals  are  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  American 
Indians.     Their  skins  form  the  greatest  branch  of  their  traffic,  by 
which   they  procure  from  the  whites  in  exchange,  many  of  th« 


HUNTING   THE   VIRGINIAN   DEER.  77 

necessaries  of  life.  To  all  of  them  the  flesh  is  the  principal  food 
throughout  the  year;  for  drying  it  over  a  gentle  but  clear  fire,  after 
cutting  it  into  small  pieces,  it  is  not  only  capable  of  long  preserva- 
tion, hut  is  very  portable  in  their  excursions,  especially  when 
reduced  to  powder,  which  is  frequently  done.  Hunting  is  more 
than  an  amusement  to  these  people.  They  use  it  not  only  for  the 
sake  of  subsistence,  but  to  fit  themselves  for  war,  by  habituating 
them  to  fatigue.  A  good  huntsman  is  an  able  warrior.  Those 
who  fail  in  the  sports  of  the  field  are  never  supposed  to  be  capable 
of  supporting  the  hardships  of  a  campaign  ;  they  are  degraded  to 
ignoble  offices,  such  as  dressing  the  skins  of  deer,  and  other  employ- 
ments allotted  only  to  women  and  slaves. 

When  a  large  party  meditates  a  hunting  match,  which  is  usually 
at  the  beginning  of  winter,  they  agree  on  a  place  of  rendezvous, 
often  five  hundred  miles  distant  from  their  homes,  and  where  per- 
haps many  of  them  had  never  been.  When  this  matter  is  settled, 
they  separate  into  small  parties,  travel  and  hunt  for  subsistence  all 
day,  and  rest  at  night.  The  Indians  have  tl\eir  particular  hunting 
countries;  but  if  they  invade  the  limits  of  those  belonging  to  other 
nations,  the  most  deadly  feuds  ensue.  As  soon  as  they  arrive  on 
the  borders  of  the  hunting  country,  the  captain  of  the  band  delineates 
on  the  bark  of  a  tree  his  own  figure,  with  a  rattlesnake  twined  rom.d 
h  nn  with  distended  mouth ;  and  in  his  hand  a  bloody  tomahau  k. 


By  this  he  implies  a  destructive  menace  to  any  who  shall  invndo- 
their  territories,  or  interrupt  their  diversion. — The  chase  is  carried 
on  in  different  ways.  Some  surprise  the  deer  by  using  the  stale 


78 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


of  the  head,  horns,  and  hide ;  but  the  general  method  is  performed 
oy  the  whoie  body.  Several  hundreds  disperse  in  a'  line,  encom- 
passing a  vast  space  of  country,  fire  the  woods,  and  drive  the 
animals  into  some  strait  or  peninsula,  where  they  become  an  easy 
prey ;  and  where  foxes,  racoons,  bears,  &c.,  are  also  objects  of  atten« 
tion,  whose  furs  form  articles  of  commerce  with  the  Europeans. 

The  Indians  had  a  stratagem  for  taking  deer  by  disguising 
themselves  in  the  skin  of  the  animal,  and  the  old  histories  inform 
us  that  whr.n  Maryland  was  settled  by  Lord  Baltimore's  colony, 
the  Indians  instructed  the  colonists  in  the  use  of  this  stratagem. 


9HE    INDIANS   INSTRUCTING   TUB   COLONISTS   OP    HABVLAND   IN 
DEER   HUNTING. 


INDIAN    RHINOCEROS. 


HUNTING   THE   INDIAN   RHINOCEROS.  8i 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

HUNTING   THE   INDIAN   RHINOCEROS. 


T 


HE  old  name  of  this  the  first  rhinoceros 
known  to  naturalists,  was  Unicornua, 
or  one-horned ;  but  the  discovery  of 
another  with  only  one  horn,  and  yet 
with  specific  difFereices  sufficiently 
marked,  rendered  this  r.  ime  no  longer 
descriptive  as  a  specific  oiie.  This 
powerful  animal  is  not  distributed  over 
the  breadth  of  continental  India,  but 
confined  to  the  marshy  jungles  in  the  lower  valleys  of  the  greaf 
rivers,  especially  the  Granges,  and  its  effluent  the  Burhampootra 
The  country  there  has  a  peculiar  character  among  even  Indiar 
countries.  The  rains  come  with  both  monsoons,  the  north-east  aa 
well  as  the  south-west,  and  they  come  in  very  great  quantity  ;  so 
that,  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year  everywhere,  and  the  whole 
of  it  in  many  places,  the  country  is  a  swamp  ;  a  swamp  whir.h 
remains  under  the  shade  of  that  most  luxuriant  vegetation  which 
it  produces,  despite  the  great  heat  of  the  sun.  This  is  the  grand 
residence  of  the  rhinoceros  ;  and  it  points  out  what  must  have 
been  the  character  of  vegetation  in  those  places  from  which  the 
rhinoceros  has  vanished,  when  that  animal  was  alive  in  them. 

The  characters  of  this  one  are  : — a  single  horn  on  the  nose  ;  the 
skin  is  marked  with  deep  furrows  or  plaits  behind  the  shoulde*  * 
and  the  thighs ;  and  there  are  also  deep  folds  under  the  throat. 
The  skin  is  indeed  folded  and  furrowed  in  many  places,  as  if  it 
were  too  large  for  the  owner.  The  hairs  on  the  skin  are  hard 
and  smooth  ;  but  they  are  so  few,  as  scarcely  to  make  any  appear- 
ance, excepting  a  few  on  the  tail  and  the  margins  of  the  ears. 
The  head  is  short  and  triangular ;  but  the  nasal  bones  are  well 
developed,  and  form  a  strong  vault,  on  the  summit  of  which  the 
base  of  the  horn  rests.  The  eyes  are  very  small;  and  there  are 
two  strong  incisive  teeth  in  each  jaw.  When  in  nealth,  the  skin 

«f  the  animal  is  blackish  grey  with  a  slight  tinge  of  violet      When 
6 


82  HUNT1JNU    AUVENTUKB8. 


full  grown,  it  attains  the  length  of  eight  or  nine  feet ;  but  it  does 
not  stand  much  more  than  half  the  height  of  the  elephant.  It  is 
a  strong  and  powerful  animal  a  ,d  easily  excited,  in  which  state  it 
is  equally  bold  and  perseveri  g  in  its  attacks.  What  the  natural 
enemies  of  the  rhinoceros  may  be,  it  is  not  easy  to  say ;  though 
its  proneness  to  make  the  attack,  which  has  no  reference  whatever 
to  the  finding  of  its  food,  would  lead  us  to  suppose  that  this  pugna- 
cious instinct  has  not  been  given  to  it  in  vain. 

In  consequence  of  its  boldness  and  strength,  the  hunting  of  the 
ihinoceros  is  one  of  the  most  splendid  and  hazardous  of  the  wild 
sports  of  the  East.  I  is  to  be  sought  for  in  the  jungles,  and  is 
often  found  in  parties  of  about  half  a  dozen,  led  on  by  the  biggest 
of  the  whole,  as  is  the  case  with  the  herds  of  elephants.  In  the 
tall  vegetation  of  the  Indian  jungle,  the  sportsmen  cannot  hunt  for 
this  animal  unless  they  are  mounted  on  elephants  ;  and  they  find 
it  necessary  to  go  in  bands,  so  that  while  some  of  the  elephants 
are  receiving  the  charge  of  the  rhinoceros,  the  others  may  take 
aim  and  wound  them.  A  single  one  is  said,  in  the  first  instance, 
to  seek  safety  in  a  retreat  into  a  closer  part  of  the  jungle ;  but,  if 
again  roused,  it  advances  to  the  attack.  Its  object  appears  to  be 
to  get  at  the  elephant  on  the  side  ;  and  passing  the  horn  in  below 
it,  to  wound  it  in  the  belly,  or  fairly  rip  it  open.  T^he  elephant  is 
also  said  not  to  attempt  using  the  tusks,  which  would  not,  of 
course,  be  able  to  toss  so  weighty  an  animal.  What  may  be 
done  in  a  state  of  nature  we  have  no  means  of  knowing,  for  no- 
body has  recorded,  and  probably  nobody  ever  saw  a  battle  between 
a  rhinoceros  and  an  elephant  in  wild  nature,  nor  probably  between 
a  rhinoceros  and  any  other  creature.  But  in  cases  of  hunting 
the  elephant  does  not  appear  to  have  any  means  of  warding  r.ff 
the  attack  ;  but  wheels  round,  and  receives  it  on  the  hinder  oart 
of  the  body,  on  which  the  horn  has  not  much  effect  in  the  WP  .  of 
laceration  ;  but  the  impetus  of  the  animal  is  such,  that  it  mrls 
the  elephant  to  the  earth ;  and  this  it  will  continue  to  <k  agdn 
and  again  for  some  time.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  the  elephant,  if 
free  in  wild  nature,  would  continue  to  receive  these  attacks  till 
its  opponent  were  exhausted. 


HUNTING    THE    BISON. 


EUROPEAN    BISON    ASSAILED    BY  WOLVES. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

HUNTING   THE    BISON. 

must  be  can  ful 
to  distinguish  be- 
tween the  two  speciea 
of  Bison,  the  European 
species,  and  the  Ameri 
can.  Speaking  of  the 
former,  a  late  writer 
says  : 

Cuvier  considers  it  as 
certain  that  this  animal 

• 

the  largest,  or  at  least  the  most  massive  of  all  existing  quadru- 
peds after  the  rhinoceros,  ap  animal  still  to  be  found  in  some  o/ 


»4  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


the  1  .ithuanian  forests,  and  perhaps  in  those  of  Moldavia,  Wai- 
lachia,  and  the  neighborhood  of  the  Caucasus,  is  a  distinct  species 
which  man  has  never  subdued ;  nor  do  we  thinJc  that  any  one 
who  takes  the  trouble  to  consider  the  evidence  on  which  Cuvier's 
conclusion  was  founded  will  be  of  a  different  opinion.  Following 
out  this  subject  with  his  usual  industry  and  ability,  that  great 
naturalist  goes  on  to  state  (Ossemcns  Fossil  es]  that  if  Europe 
possessed  a  Ifrus,  a  Thur  of  the  Poles,  different  from  the  Bison 
or  the  Aurochs  of  the  Germans,  it  is  only  in  its  remains  that  the 
species  can  be  traced  ;  such  remains  are  found,  in  the  skulls  of  a 
species  of  ox  different  from  the  aurochs,  in  the  superficial  beds  of 
certain  districts.  This  Cuvier  thinks  must  be  the  true  Urus  of 
the  ancients,  the  original  of  our  domestic  ox,  the  stock  perhaps 
whence  our  wild  cattle  descended  ;  while  the  aurochs  of  the  pre- 
sent day  is  nothing  more  than  the  Bison  .or  Bonasus  of  the 
indents,  a  species  which  has  never  been  brought  under  the  yoke. 

This  ancient  species  is  fast  following  its  extinct  congener,  the 
Urus.  Pallas  observes,  that  it  is  remarkable  that  the  aurochs 
does  not  exist  in  any  of  the  vast  forests  of  Russia  and  Northern 
Asia,  whence  (if  it  had  penetrated  therein)  hardly  any  thing  could 
have  eradicated  it.  As  late  as  the  reign  of  Charlemagne  it  was 
not  rare  in  Germany,  but  the  range  of  the  species  is  now  nearly 
confined  to  the  mountainous  country  between  the  Caspian  and 
Black  Seas. 

The  American  Bison  has  many  points  of  similarity  with  the 
Jlurochs.  In  both  we  have  the  huge  head,  and  the  lengthened 
pinous  processes  of  the  dorsal  vertebrae  for  the  attachment  of  the 
biawny  muscles  that  support  and  wield  it.  In  both  we  have  the 
CMiical  hump  between  the  shoulders  in  consequence,  and  the 
shaggy  mane  in  all  seasons  ;  and  each  presents  a  model  of  brute 
force,  formed  to  push  and  throw  down. 

Before  we  describe  the  habits  of  the  American  bison,  the  modes 
of  hunting  it.  and  the  uses  to  which  the  several  parts  of  the  anima. 
are  put,  it  may  be  well  to  give  some  idea  of  the  vast  wildernesses 
where  it  roams  in  unrestrained  freedom.  We  know  not  How  to 
ronvey  this  idea  better  than  in  the  words  of  Washington  Irving 


HUNTTTSTO    THE    BTSON.  85 


AMERICAN    BISON. 


who  possesses  the  magic  art  of  converting  the  reader  into  a  spectator 
of  the  scene  described.  In  his  Tour  on  the  Prairies,  the  follow 
ing  panoramic  views  are  presented  to  us  : — 

"After  a  toilsome  march  of  some  distance  through  a  country  cut 
up  by  ravines  and  brooks,  and  entangled  by  thickets,  we  emerged 
upon  a  grand  prairie.  Here  one  of  the  characteristic  scenes  <  f 
the  '  far  west'  broke  upon  us, — an  immense  extent  of  grassy, 
undulating,  or,  as  it  is  termed,  '  roiling'  country,  with  here  and 
there  a  clump  of  trees  dimly  seen  in  the  distance  like  a  ship  at  s»-a, 
the  landscape  deriving  sublimity  from  its  vastness  and  simplicity. 
To  the  south-west,  on  the  summit  of  a  hill,  was  a  singular  crest  of 
broken  rocks,  resembling  a  ruined  fortress.  It  reminded  me  of  the 
ruin  of  some  Moorish  castle  crowning  a  height  in  the  midst  of  a 
lonely  Spanish  landscape.  To  this  hill  we  gave  the  name  of  Cliff 
Castle. 

"The  prairies  of  these  great  hunting  regions  differed,  in  the 
character  of  their  vegetation,  from  those  through  which  I  had 
hitnerto  passed.  Instead  of  a  profusion  of  tall,  flowering  plants, 
and  long  flaunting  grasses,  they  were  covered  with  a  shorter  growth 


86  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 

of  herbage  called  buffalo-grass,  somewhat  coarse,  but,  at  the  proper 
season,  affording  excellent  and  abundant  pasturage.  At  pn  sent  it 
was  growing  wiry,  and  in  many  places  it  was  too  much  parched 
for  grazing. 

"The  weather  was  verging  into  that  serene  but  somewhat  arid 
season  called  the  Indian  suminer.  There  was  a  smoky  haze  in 
the  atmosphere  that  tempered  the  brightness  of  the  sunshine  into  a 
golden  tint,  softening  the  features  of  the  landscape,  and  giving  a 
vagueness  to  the  outlines  of  distant  objects.  This  haziness  was 
daily  increasing,  and  was  attributed  to  the  burning  of  the  distant 
prairies  by  the  Indian  hunting  parties.  We  had  not  gone  far  upon 
the  prairie  before  we  came  to  where  deeply-worn  footpaths  were 
seen  traversing  the  country.  .Sometimes  two  or  three  would  keep 
parallel  to  each  other,  and  but  a  few  paces  apart.  These  were 
pronounced  to  be  traces  of  buffaloes,  where  large  droves  had 
passed." — p.  153. 

Turn  we  now  to  a  more  refreshing  scene  : — "About  ten  o'clock 
in  the  morning  we  came  to  where  this  line  of  rugged  hills  swept 
down  into  a  valley,  through  which  flowed  the  north  fork  of  the  Red 
River.  A  beautiful  meadow,  about  half  a  mile  wide,  enamelled 
with  yellow  autumnal  flowers,  stretched  for  two  or  three  miles  along 
the  foot  of  the  hills,  bordered  on  the  opposite  side  by  the  river, 
whose  banks  were  fringed  with  cotton-wood  trees,  the  bright  foliage 
of  which  refreshed  and  delighted  the  eye,  after  being  wearied  by 
the  contemplation  of  monotonous  wastes  of  brown  forest. 

"  The  meadow  was  finely  diversified  by  groves  and  clumps  of 
trees,  so.  happily  disposed  that  they  seemed  as  if  set  out  by  the 
hand  of  art.  As  we  cast  our  eyes  over  this  fresh  and  delightful 
valley,  we  beheld  a  troop  of  wild  horses  quietly  grazing  on  a  green 
lawn  about  a  mile  distant  to  our  right,  while  to  our  left,  at  nearly 
the  same  distance,  were  several  buffaloes,  some  feeding,  others  re 
posing  and  ruminating  among  the  high  rich  herbage,  under  the 
shade  of  a  clump  of  cotton-wood  trees.  The  whole  had  the  appear 
a'nce  of  a  broi  d,  beautiful  tract  of  pasture- land,  on  the  highly  orna- 
mented estate  of  some  gentleman-farm £r,  with  his  cattle  grazing 
about  the  lawns  and  meadows." — p,  220. 


HUNTING    THE   BISON.  87 


The  American  male  bison,  when  at  its  full  size,  is  said  to  weigh 
2000  Ibs.,  though  12  or  14  cwt,  is  considered  a  good  weight  in  the 
fur  countries.  Dr.  Richardson  gives  eight  feet  and  a  half  as  its 
length,  exclusive  of  the  tail,  which  is  twenty  inches,  and  upwards 
of  six  feet  as  its  height  at  the  fore-quarters.  The  head  is  very 
large,  and  carried  low;  the  eyes  are  small,  black,  and  piercing; 
the  horns  are  short,  small,  sharp,  set  far  apart,  for  the  forehead  is 
very  broad,  and  directed  outwards  and  backwards,  so  as  to  be  nearly 
erect,  with  a  slight  curve  towards  the  outward  pointing  tips.  Tho 
hump  is  not  a  mere  lump  of  fatty  secretion,  like  that  of  the  zebu, 
but  consists  exclusive  of  a  deposite  of  fat,  which  varies  much  in 
quantity,  of  the  strong  muscles  attached  to  the  highly-developed 
spinous  processes  of  the  last  cervical  and  first  dorsal  vertebrae, 
forming  fit  machinery  for  the  support  and  movement  of  the  enormous 
head.  The  chest  is  broad,  and  the  legs  are  strong ;  the  hind  parts 
are  narrow,  and  liave  a  comparatively  weak  appearance.  The 
tail  is  clothed  with  short  fur-like  hair,  with  a  long,  straight,  coarse, 
blackish -brown  tuft  at  the  end.  In  winter  the  whole  body  is 
covered  with  long  shagged  hair,  which  in  summer  falls  off,  leaving 
the  blackish  wrinkled  skin  exposed,  except  on  the  forehead,  hump, 
fore-quarters,  under-jaw,  and  throat,  where  the  hair  is  very  long 
and  shaggy,  and  mixed  with  much  wool  Catesby  observes  that 
on  the  forehead  of  a  bull  the  hair  is  a  foot  long,  thick  and  frizzled, 
and  of  a  dusky  black  color,  that  the  length  of  this  hair,  hanging 
over  their  eyes,  impedes  their  flight,  and  is  frequently  the  cause 
of  their  destruction,  but  this  obstruction  of  sight  is  in  some  measure 
supplied  by  their  good  noses,  which  are  no  small  safeguard  to  them. 
A  bull,  says  he,  in  summer,  with  his  body  bare  and  his  head 
mufHod  with  long  hair,  makes  a  very  formidable  appearance.  In 
summer,  the  general  color  of  the  hair  is  between  dark-umber  and 
liver-brown,  and  lustrous.  The  tips  of  the  hair,  as  it  lengthens  in 
winter,  are  paler,  and  before  it  is  shed  in  summer  much  of  it  be- 
comes of  a  pale,  dull,  yellowish-brown.  In  the  female  the  head 
is  smaller,  and  the  hair  on  the  foreparts  is  not  so  long  as  it  is  in  the 
male. 

Congregating  in  vast  herds,  these  animals  are  said  to  cover  the 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


CAPTAIN    LEWIS    THE    TRAVELLER 


wide-extended  savannahs  of  the  more  southern  districts  of  the  north 
for  miles  in  extent.  "  Such  was  the  multitude,"  say  Lewis  and 
Clarke,  speaking  of  an  assemblage  of  bisons  as  they  crossed  the 
water,  u  that  although  the  river,  including  an  island  over  which 
they  passed,  was  a  mile  in  length,  the  herd  stretched,  as  thick  as 
they  could  swim,  completely  from  cne  side  to  the  other."  The 
same  travellers,  speaking  of  another  of  these  grand  spectacles, 
say, — "  If  it  be  not  impossible  to  calculate  the  moving  multitude 
which  darkened  the  whole  plains,  we  are  convinced  that  20,000 
would  be  no  exaggerated  number."  Catesby,  after  stating  that 
they  range  in  droves,  feeding  on  the  open  savannahs  morning  and 
evening,  says  that  in  the  sultry  time  of  the  day  they  retire  to  shady 
rivulets  and  streams  of  clear  water  gliding  through  thickets  of  tall 


HUN'ilNQ    THE    BISON.  89 


canes.  Dr.  James  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  them  on  such 
occasions,  and  he  thus  describes  their  march  : — "  In  the  middle  of 
the  day  countless  thousands  of  them  were  seen  coming  in  from 
every  quarter  to  the  stagnant  pools  ;"  and  in  another  place  he  says, 
that  their  paths  are  as  frequent,  and  almost  as  conspicuous  as  the 
roads  in  the  most  populous  parts  of  the  United  States. 

The  bisons,  in  truth,  are  a  wandering  race,  the  motives  of  their 
restlessness  being,  either  disturbance  by  hunters  or  change  of  pas- 
ture. After  the  fire  has  cleared  the  prairie  of  all  the  old  herbage, 
the  delicately  tender  grass  which  springs  up  in  the  r^om  of  the  old 
"wiry  bents  that  fed  the  flame,  offers  the  most  grateful  food  to  the 
migratory  bisons  :  such  spots  are  well-known  to  the  hunter  as  points 
of  attraction  to  these  animals.  In  the  winter,  when  the  snow  lies  deep 
over  the  vegetation,  they  scrape  it  away  with  their  feet  to  get  at 
the  grass. 

Fierce  and  terrible  are  the  fights  among  the  bulls  in  the  rutting 
season,  and  perilous  is  the  condition  of  the  man  who  then  approaches 
them.  For  the  greatest  part  of  the  year  the  bulls  and  cows  live  in 
separate  herds  ;  but  at  all  seasons,  according  to  Dr.  Richardson, 
one  or  two  old  bulls  generally  accompany  a  large  herd  of  cows. 

These  powerful  beasts  are  in  general  shy,  and  fly  from  the  face 
of  man  till  they  are  wounded  ;  they  then  become  furious,  and 
pursue  their  enemy  with  the  most  vindictive  spirit,  as  we  shall 
presently  see  ;  but  we  must  first  say  a  word  or  two  on  some  of  the 
different  modes  of  hunting  them.  Du  Pratz  and  Charlevoix  give 
several  particulars  of  the  chase  of  these  animals  by  the  Indians.  11 
the  rifle  be  used  the  hunter  is  careful  to  go  against  the  wind,  for 
the  sense  of  smelling  is  so  exquisite  in  the  bison  that  it  will  other- 
wise get  scent  of  him  and  precipitately  retire.  If  he  gets  within 
rifle-distance,  he  is  careful  so  to  take  his  aim  that  the  beast  may 
drop  at  once,  and  not  be  irritated  by  an  ineffectual  wound. 

But  the  great  hunting  is,  or  rather  was,  somewhat  after  the 
manner  of  the  Scottish  "  tinchel."  A  great  number  of  men  divide 
and  form  a  vust  square.  Each  band  sets  h're  to  the  dry  grass  of 
the  savannah  where  the  herds  are  £"°'lin<r.  When  the  aff 


90  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


beasts  perceive  the  fire  approaching  on  all  sides,  they  retire  in  con- 
fusion to  the  centre  of  the  .square,  where  the  bands  close  upon  them, 
and  kill  them  as  they  are  huddled  together  in  heaps  without 
hazard  ;  1500  or  2000  beeves  have  been  given  as  the  produce  of 
such  an  expedition. 

Captain  (now  Sir  John)  Franklin  gives  us  the  following  infoi- 
mation.  After  stating  that  the  Stone  Indians  are  so  expert  with 
the  bow  and  arrow  that  they  can  strike  a  very  small  object  at  a 
considerable  distance,  and  shoot  with  sufficient  force  to  pierce 
through  the  body  of  a  buffalo  when  near,  he  thus  describes  a  buffalo 
or  bison  pound  : — 

"The  buffalo  pound  was  a  fenced  circular  space,  of  about  a  hun- 
dred yards  in  diameter;  the  entrance  was  banked  up  with  snow, 
to  a  sufficient  height  to  prevent  the  retreat  of  the  animals  that  once 
have  entered.  For  about  a  mile  on  each  side  of  the  road  leading 
to  the  pound,  stakes  were  driren  into  the  ground  at  nearly  equal 
distances  of  about  twenty  yards  ;  these  were  intended  to  represent 
men,  and  to  deter  the  animals  from  attempting  to  break  out  on 
either  side.  Within  fifty  or  sixty  yards  from  the  pound,  branches 
of  trees  were  placed  between  these  stakes  to  screen  the  Indians, 
who  lie  down  behind  them  to  await  the  approach  of  the  buffalo. 
The  principal  dexterity  in  this  species  of  chase  is  shown  by  the 
horsemen,  who  have  to  manoeuvre  round  the  herd  in  the  plains  so 
as  to  urge  them  to  enter  the  roadway,  which  is  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  broad.  When  this  has  been  accomplished,  they  raise  loud 
shouts,  and,  pressing  close  upon  the  animals,  so  terrify  them  tha 
they  rush  heedlessly  forwards  towards  the  snare.  When  they 
have  advanced  as  far  as  the  men  who  are  lying  in  ambush,  they 
also  rise,  and  increase  the  consternation  by  violent  shouting  and 
fi.'ing  guns.  The  affrighted  beasts  having  no  alternative,  run 
directly  to  the  pound,  where  they  are  quickly  despatched,  either 
with  an  arrow  or  gun.  There  was  a  tree  in  the  centre  of  the 
pound,  on  which  the  Indians  had  hung  strips  of  buffalo  flesh,  and 
pieces  of  cloth,  as  tributary  or  grateful  offerings  to  the  Great  Mastei 
01  life  ;  and  we  were  told  that  they  occasionally  place  a  man  in  the 


HUNTING   THE   BISON.  93 


tree  10  sing  to  the  presiding  Spirit  as  the  buffaloes  ar*  advancing, 
who  must  keep  his  station  until  the  whole  that  have  entered  are 
killed." 

The  same  author  further  proceeds  as  follows ; — "  Other  modes 
of  killing  the  buffalo  are  practised  by  the  Indians  with  success  ; 
of  these,  the  hunting  them  on  horseback  requires  most  dexterity. 
An  expert  hunter,  when  well  mounted,  dashes  at  the  herd,  and 
chooses  an  individual  which  he  endeavors  to  separate  from  the  rest. 
If  he  succeeds,  he  contrives  to  keep  him  apart  by  the  proper  man- 
agement of  his  horse,  though  going  at  full  speed.  Whenever  he 
can  get  sufficiently  near  for  a  ball  to  penetrate  the  beast's  hide  he 
fires,  and  seldom  fails  of  bringing  the  animal  down  ;  though,  of 
course,  he  cannot  rest  the  piece  against  the  shoulder,  nor  take  a 
deliberate  aim.  On  this  service  the  hunter  is  often  exposed  to 
considerable  danger  from  the  fall  of  his  horse  in  the  numerous 
holes  which  the  badgers  make  in  these  plains,  and  also  from  the 
rage  of  the  buffalo,  which,  when  closely  pressed,  often  turns  sud 
denly,  and,  rushing  furiously  on  the  horse,  frequently  succeeds  in 
wounding  it,  or  dismounting  the  rider.  Whenever  the  animal 
shows  this  disposition,  which  the  experienced  hunter  will  readily 
perceive,  he  immediately  pulls  up  his  horse  and  goes  off  in  another 
direction."  The  reader  will  find  some  animated  descriptions  of 
such  encounters  in  "  The  Tour  on  the  Prairies,"  before  alluded  to. 

11  When  the  buffaloes  are  on  their  guard,"  as  Captain  Franklin 
observes,  "  horses  cannot  be  used  in  approaching  them ;  but  the 
hunter  dismounts  at  some  distance  and  crawls  in  the  snow  towards 
the  herd,  pushing  his  gun  before  him.  If  the  buffaloes  happen 
to  look  towards  him  he  stops,  and  keeps  quite  motionless,  until 
their  eyes  are  turned  in  another  direction ;  by  this  cautious  pro- 
ceeding a  skilful  person  will  get  so  near  as  to  be  able  to  kill  two 
or  three  out  of  the  herd.  It  will  easily  be  imagine J  this  service 
cannot  be  very  agreeable  when  the  thermometer  stands  30°  or  40° 
below  zero,  as  sometimes  happens  in  this  country." 

This  chase  of  the  bison  is  not  unattended  with  danger,  "  for," 
•ays  Catesby,  "when  wounded  they  are  very  furious,  which 


94  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


cautions  the  Indians  how  they  attack  them  in  open  savannahs 
where  no  trees  are  to  screen  them  from  their  fury.  Their  hoofs 
more  than  their  horns,  are  their  offensive  weapons,  and  whatevei 
opposes  them  is  in  no  small  danger  of  being  trampled  into  the 
earth." 

Dr.  Richardson,  in  his  (t  Fauna  Borealis  Americana"  observes 
that  the  bisons  are  less  wary  when  they  are  assembled  together  in 
numbers,  and  that  they  will  then  often  blindly  follow  their  leaders, 
regardless  of,  or  trampling  down,  the  hunters  posted  in  their  way.' 
He  further  states  that,  though  the  gait  of  these  animals  may 
appear  heavy  and  awkward,  they  will  have  no  great  difficulty  in 
overtaking  the  fleetest  runner,  and  gives  the  following  account  of 
che  determined  violence  with  which  a  wounded  bison  assails  its 
enemy :  "  While  I  resjded  at  Carlton  house,"  writes  Dr.  Richard- 
son, "an  accident  of  this  kind  occurred.  Mr.  Finnan  M'Donald, 
one  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  clerks,  was  descending  the 
Saskatchewan  in  a  boat,  and  one  evening,  having  pitched  his  tent 
for  the  night,  he  went  out  in  the  dusk  to  look  for  game.  It  had 
become  nearly  dark  when  he  fired  at  a  bison-bull,  which  was 
galloping  over  a  small  eminence,  and  as  he  was  hastening  forward 
to  see  if  his  shot  had  taken  effect,  the  wounded  beast  made  a  rush 
at  him.  He  had  the  presence  of  mind  to  seize  the  animal  by  the 
long  hair  on  its  forehead  as  it  struck  him  on  the  side  with  its 
horn,  and,  being  a  remarkably  tall  and  powerful  man,  a  struggle 
ensued,  which  continued  until  his  wrist  was  severely  sprained, 
and  his  arm  was  rendered  powerless  ;  he  then  fell,  and  after 
receiving  two  or  three  blows  became  senseless.  Shortly  after- 
wards he  was  found  by  his  companions  lying  bathed  in  blood,  being 
gored  in  several  places,  and  the  bison  was  couched  beside  him, 
apparently  waiting  to  renew  the  attack,  had  he  shown  any  signs 
of  life.  Mr.  M'Donald  recovered  from  the  immediate  effects  of 
the  injuries  he  received,  but  died  a  few  months  afterwards. 
Many  other  instances  might  be  mentioned  of  the  tenacioushess  Avith 
which  this  animal  pursues  its  revenge  ;  and  I  have  been  told  of  a 
hunter  having  been  detained  for  many  hours  in  a  tree  by  an  old 


HUNTING   THE   BISON.  87 

•ili,  which  had  taken  its  post  below  to  watch  him.  When  it 
contends  with  a  dog,  it  strikes  violently  with  its  fore  feet,  and  in 
that  way  proves  more  than  a  match  for  an  English  bull-dog." 

The  same  writer  says,  that  the  favorite  Indian  method  of  killing 
the  bison  is  by  riding  up  to  the  fattest  of  the  herd  on  horseback, 
and  shooting  it  with  an  arrow;  and  he  speaks  of  the  imposing 
spectacle  which  is  afforded  when  a  large  party  of  hunters  are 
engaged  in  this  way  on  an  extensive  plain,  and  of  the  skill  and 
agility  displayed  by  the  young  men  on  such  occasions.  The 
horses,  it  appears,  seem  to  enjoy  the  sport  as  much  as  their  riders, 
and  are  very  active  in  eluding  the  shock  of  the  animal,  should  it 
turn  on  its  pursuer.  It  should  be  remembered,  on  such  occasions, 
that,  when  the  bison  runs,  it  leans  very  much  first  to  one  side  for 
a  short  time,  and  then  to  the  other,  and  so  on  alternately. 

Dr.  Richardson  also  confirms  Captain  Franklin  in  the  asser- 
tion, that  the  most  generally  practised  plan  of  shooting  the  bison 
is  by  crawling  towards  them  from  to  leeward,  and  that  in  favorable 
places  great  numbers  are  taken  in  pounds. 

To  facilitate  their  approach  to  the  bisons,  the  Indians  some- 
times clothe  themselves  with  the  skin  of  the  white  wolf,  which 
the  bison  does  not  fear. 


HITNTI\(!  ADVENTURES. 


POLAR    BEAR. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

HUNTING    THE    POLAR    BEAR. 

HE  Polar  Bear  is  generally  from 
six  to  eight  feet  long.  The  fur  is 
long  and  white,  with  a  tinge  of 
yellow,  which  becomes  darker 
as  the  atoimal  advances  in  age  ; 
the  ears  are  small  and  round, 
and  the  head  long.  It  inhabits 
Greenland  and  Lapland,  and  is 
found  as  far  north  as  eighty  de- 
grees. He  walks  heavily,  and 
is  very  clumsy  in  his  motions ;  his  senses  of  hearing  and  seeing 
appear  very  dull,  but  his  smell  is  very  acute  ;  and  he  does  not  appear 
destitute  of  some  degree  of  understanding,  or  at  least  of  cunning. 
Captain  King,  who  visited  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Ocean  in  1835, 
relates  a  curious  instance  of  the  cunning  of  this  animal.  ''On 
one  occasion  a  Polar  Bear  was  seen  to  swim  cautiously  to  a  large 
piece  of  ice,  on  which  two  female  walruses  were  lying  asleep  with 
iheir  cubs.  The  Bear  crept  up  some  hum  mocks  behind  them, 
and  with  his  fore  feet  loosened  a  large  block  of  ice,  which,  with 
the  help  of  his  nose  and  paws,  he  rolled  »nd  carried  till  it  was 


HUNTING   THE    POLAR   BEAR.  99 


immediately  over  the  heads  of  the  sleepers,  wnen  he  Jet  it  fall  on 
one  of  the  old  animals,  which  was  instantly  killed.  The  other 
walrus,  with  its  cubs,  rolled  into  the  water,  but  the  young  one  of 
the  murdered  female  remained  by  its  dam,  anc  on  this  helpless 
creature  the  Bear  rushed,  thus  killing  two  animals  at  once." 

The  ferocity  of  this  kind  of  Bear  is  equal  to  its  cunning.  A 
few  years  since,  the  crew  of  a  boat  belonging  to  a  ship  in  the 
whale-fishery,  shot  at  a  Bear  at  a  short  distance,  and  wounded  it. 
The  animal  immediately  set  up  the  most  dreadful  yells,  and  ran 
along  the  ice  towards  the  boat.  Before  it  reached  it,  a  second 
shot  was  fired,  and  hit  it.  This  served  to  increase  its  fury.  It 
presently  swam  to  the  boat ;  and  in  attempting  to  get  on  board, 
reached  its  fore  foot  upon  the  gunnel :  but  one  of  the  crew  having 
a  hatchet,  cut  it  off.  The  animal  still,  however,  continued  to 
J»vvim  after  them  till  they  arrived  at  the  ship ;  and  several  shots 
were  fired  at  it,  which  also  took  effect :  but  on  reaching  the  ship, 
it  immediately  ascended  the  deck ;  and  the  crew  having  fled  into 
the  shrouds,  it  was  pursuing  them  thither,  when  a  shot  from  one 
of  them  laid  it  dead  on  the  deck. 

From  its  great  size  and  strength,  the  polar  bear  is,  under  all 
circumstances,  a  powerful  animal  ;  but  upon  the  ice  it  is  pecu- 
liarly at  home,  and  the  danger  of  attacking  him  there  is  much 
greater  than  anywhere  else.  The  following  anecdote,  recorded 
in  his  "  Narrative  of  a  Voyage  to  Greenland,"  by  Scoresby,  whose 
writings  have  thrown  so  much  valuable  light  upon  the  economy 
of  the  Polar  seas,  will  afford  some  idea  of  the  cc.  iduct  of  the  beai 
on  the  ice. 

In  the  summer  of  1820,  "  the  ship,  a  Hull  whaler,  was  moored 
to  a  piece  of  ice,  on  which,  at  a  considerable  distance,  a  large  bear 
was  observed  prowling  about  for  prey.  One  of  the  ship's  com 
pany,  emboldened  by  an  artificial  courage,  derived  from  the  free 
use  of  rum,  which,  in  his  economy,  he  had  stored  for  special 
occasions,  undertook  to  pursue  and  attack  the  bear  that  was  withia 
view.  Armed  only  with  a  whale-lance,  he,  resolutely,  and  against 
all  persuasion,  set  out  on  his  adventurous  exploit.  A  fatiguing 
journey  of  about  half  a  league,  over  a  yieldirg  surface  of  snow 


100  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


THE    SAILOR    AND    THE    BEAR. 

and  rugged  hummocks,  brought  him  within  a.  few  yards  of  the 
enemy,  which,  to  his  surprise,  undauntedly  faced  him,  and  seemed 
to  invite  him  to  the  combat.  His  courage  being  by  this  time 
greatly  subdued,  partly  by  evaporation  of  the  stimulus,  and  partly 
by  the  undismayed,  and  even  threatening  aspect  of  the  bear,  he 
levelled  his  lance  in  an  attitude  suited  either  for  offensive  or  de- 
fensive action,  and  stopped.  The  bear  also  stood  still.  In  vain 
the  adventurer  tried  to  rally  courage  to  make  the  attack ;  hia 
enemy  was  too  formidable,  and  his  attitude  too  imposing.  In 
vain,  also,  he  shouted,  advanced  his  lance,  and  made  feints  of 
attack  ;  the  enemy,  either  not  understanding,  or  despising  such 
unman] iness,  obstinately  stood  his  ground.  Already  the  limbs 
of  the  sailor  be^an  to  quiver ;  but  the  fear  of  ridicule  from  his 
messmates  had  its  influence,  and  he  yet  scarcely  dared  to  retreat. 
Bruin,  however,  possessing  less  reflection,  or  being  regardless  of 
consequences,  began  with  audacious  boldness  to  advance.  Ilia 
nigh  approach,  and  unshaken  step,  subdued  the  last  spark  of 
bravery,  and  that  dread  of  ridicule,  which  had  hitherto  upheld 
our  adventurer:  he  turned  and  fled.  But  now  was  the  time  of 
danger.  The  flight  of  the  sailor  encouraged  the  bear,  in  turn,  to 
pursue,  and,  being  better  practised  in  snow  travelling,  he  rapid/y 
gained  upon  tho  fugitive.  The  whale-lance,  his  only  weapon  of 
defence,  encumbering  him  in  his  retreat,  he  threw  it  down,  and 


HUNTING   THE   POLAR   BEAR.  101 


kept  on.  This  fortunately  excited  the  bear's  attention.  Ha 
stopped,  pawed  it,  bit  it,  and  then  renewed  the  chase.  Again 
he  was  at  the  heels  of  the  panting  seaman,  who,  conscious  of  the 
favorable  effects  of  the  lance,  dropped  one  of  his  mittens.  The 
stratagem  succeeded  ;  and  while  bruin  stopped  to  examine  it,  the 
fugitive,  improving  the  interval,  again  made  considerable  progress 
ahead.  Still  the  bear  resumed  the  pursuit  with  a  most  provoking 
perseverance,  except  when  arrested  by  another  mitten ;  and 
finally,  by  a  hat,  which  he  tore  to  shreds  between  his  fore-teeth 
and  paws,  and  would,  no  doubt,  soon  have  made  the  incautious 
adventurer  his  victim,  who  was  now  rapidly  losing  strength,  but 
for  the  prompt  and  well-timed  assistance  of  his  ship-mates,  who. 
observing  that  the  affair  had  assumed  a  dangerous  aspect,  sallied 
out  to  his  rescue.  The  little  phalanx  opened  him  a  passage,  and 
then  stood  to  receive  his  bold  assailant.  Though  now  beyond  the 
reach  of  his  adversary,  the  dismayed  fugitive  continued  onwards, 
impelled  by  his  fears,  until  he  fairly  reached  the  shelter  of  his 
ship.  The  bear  once  more  came  to  a  stand,  and  for  a  moment 
seemed  to  survey  his  enemies  with  all  the  consideration  of  an 
experienced  general,  when,  finding  them  too  numerous  for  a  hope 
of  success,  he  very  wisely  wheeled  about,  and  succeeded  in 
making  a  safe  and  honorable  retreat." 

Whether  the  bear  would,  in  this  case,  have  fled  from  the  sailor, 
if  the  latter  had  at  once  gone  boldly  in  with  his  weapon,  instead 
of  pausing  in  fear  and  brandishing  it,  is  not  known  ;  and  there  are 
no  doubt  instances  in  which  the  bear  does  attack  a  man,  though 
he  grand  object  of  attraction  for  him  is  carrion  and  offal.  It  is 
he  flesh  of  the  seal,  the  odour  of  which  becomes  very  rank, 
which  allures  him  to  the  huts  of  the  northern  people,  just  as  it  is 
the  larder,  and  not  the  people  which  attracts  ^the  black  bear  of 
America  to  the  habitations  of  the  back  settlers  ;  and  the  instances 
in  which  he  attacks  the  people  or  their  domestic  animals  are  few, 
and  confined  to  those  times  at  whicn  his  proper  food  fails. 

From  the  nature  of  their  food,  the  flesh  of  the  polar  bear  is 
more  rank  and  fishy,  and  less  agreeable  to  the,  taste  than  that  of 
the  land  bears,  though,  with  the  exception  of  the  liver,  which  has 


102  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


been  found  to  be  poisonous,  all  the  parts  of  the  animal  are  whole* 
some.  The  muscle  is  whitish,  and  soft  and  tender,  consjdering 
the  strength  of  the  animal.  The  fat  resembles  tallow,  and  melts 
into  a  transparent  oil,  which  has  no  offensive  smell.  The 
skin  is  very  serviceable,  as  well  as  handsome,  for  a  variety  of 
domestic  purposes  ;  and  to  the  northern  people  it  is  an  article  of 
considerable  value.  The  Greenlanders  pull  it  off  entire,  and 
invert  it  like  a  sack,  into  which  a  person  creeps  and  finds  a  warm 
and  comfortable  bed.  The  natives  about  Hudson's  Bay  dress  it 
to  a  very  pliable  consistency.  They  stretch  it  on  a  patch  of 
snow,  and  stake  it  down  till  it  is  stiffly  frozen,  then  they  scrape  it 
till  they  see  the  roots  of  the  hair  ;  after  which  they  leave  it  some 
time  to  bleach  and  dry,  and  it  .soon  becomes  perfectly  clean,  beauti- 
fully white,  and  very  flexible. 

The  domestic  manners  of  these  powerful  animals  are  not  much 
known.  The  pairing  season  is  understood  to  be  in  July  and 
August;  and  such  is  the  attachment  of  the  pair,  that  if  one  is 
killed,  the  other  remains  fondling  the  dead  body,  and  will  suffer 
itself  to  be  killed  rather  than  leave  it.  The  females  retire  to  thei/ 
hybernation  about  Christmas,  sooner  or  later,  according  to  the 
season.  These  are  often  excavated  in  the  snow,  and  the  animals 
remain  dormant  in  them  till  about  the  first  of  April,  when  they 
come  abroad  with  their  cubs,  usually  two  in  number,  which  are 
then  about  the  size  of  rabbits.  She  is  exceedingly  attached  to 
them,  and  nothing  but  death  itself  can  put  an  end  to  her  attentions. 
When  they  are  mortally  wounded,  she  will  fondle  them,  turn  them 
over,  lick  them,  offer  them  food,  and  pay  even  more  tender  attention 
than  many  human  beings  ;  and  when  she  finds  that  all  her  efforts 
are  unavailing,  she  moans  most  piteously. 

The  following  ,.js  one  of  the  many  instances  of  this  maternai 
affection : — 

"  Early  in  the  morning,  the  man  at  the  mast  head  gave  notice 
that  t'iree  bears  were  making  their  way  very  fast  over  the  ice, 
and  directing  their  course  towards  the  ship.  They  had  prolnbly 
been  invited  by  the  blubber  of  a  sea-horse,  which  the  men  had 
set  on  fire  and  which  was  burning  on  the  ice  at  the  time  of  '.heir 


nU.VTINTQ    THE    POLAR    BEAR.  103 


approach.  They  proved  to  be  a  she-bear  and  her  two  cubs  ; 
but  the  cubs  were  nearly  as  large  as  the  dam.  They  ran  eagerly 
iO  the  fire,  and  drew  out  from  the  flames  part  of  the  flesh  of  the 
pea-horse,  which  remained  unconsurned,  and  ate  it  voraciously. 
The  crew  from  the  ship  threw  great  pieces  of  the  flesh,  which 
they  had  still  left,  upon  the  ice,  which  the  old  bear  carried  away 
singly,  laid  every  piece  before  her  cubs,  and  dividing  them,  gave 
each  a  share,  reserving  but  a  small  portion  for  herself.  As  she 
was  carrying  away  the  last  piece,  they  levelled  their  muskets  at 
the  cubs,  and  shot  them  both  dead :  and  in  her  retreat,  they 
wounded  the  dam,  but  not  mortally. 

"  It  would  have  drawn  tears  of  pity  from  any  but  unfeeling 
minds,  to  have  marked  the  affectionate  concern  manifested  by  this 
poor  beast,  in  the  last  moments  of  her  expiring  young.  Though 
she  was  sorely  wounded,  and  could  but  just  crawl  to  the  place 
where  they  lay,  she  carried  the  lump  of  flesh  she  had  fetched 
away,  as  she  had  done  the  others  before,  tore  it  in  pieces,  and 
laid  it  down  before  them ;  and  when  she  saw  that  they  refused  to 
eat,  she  laid  her  paws  first  upon  one,  and  then  upon  the  other, 
and  endeavored  to  raise  them  up.  All  this  while  it  was  piteous 
to  hear  her  moan.  When  she  found  she  could  not  stir  them,  she 
went  ofF,  and  when  at  some  distance,  looked  back  and  moaned  ; 
and  that  not  availing  to  entice  them  away,  she  returned,  and 
smelling  around  them,  began  to  lick  their  wounds.  She  went 
off  a  second  time  as  before  ;  and  having  crawled  a  few  paces 
looked  again  behind  her,  and  for  some  time  stood  moaning.  But, 
still  her  cubs  not  rising  to  follow  her,  she  returned  to  them  again, 
and  with  signs  of  inexpressible  fondness  went  round  first  one  and 
then  the  other,  pawing  them,  and  moaning.  Finding  at  last  that 
they  were  cold  and  lifeless,  she  raised  her  head  towards  the  ship, 
and  growled  her  resentment  at  the  murderers  ;  which  they  re- 
turned with  a  volley  ot  musket  balls.  She  fell  between  her 
cubs,  and  died  licking  their  wounds." 

Many  other  instances  might  be  quoted,  illustrative  of  the 
cnaracter  of  these  singular  animals. — animals  which  are  perhaps 
more  characteristic  of  those  dismal  regions  to  which  they  are 


104 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


confined,  than  the  animals  of  almost  any  other  region.  They 
dwell,  as  it  were,  upon  the  very  verge  of  the  living  world,  beir.g 
found  as  far  to  the  north  as  the  restless  foot  of  human  discovery 
has  penetrated  ;  and  they  are  perhaps  the  only  animals  not  de- 
cidedly and  habitually  inhabitants  of  the  sea,  which  are  found  in 
every  longitude,  and  are  in  all  longitudes  exactly  the  same.  We 
cannot  say  positively  that  they  range  across  the  pole  of  the  earth's 
rotation,  and  pass  from  Asia  to  America,  and  from  America  lo 
Asia  by  that  route,  because  there  is  a  zone  round  the  pole  of 
which  we  have  no  knowledge.  But  as  the  observations  of  the 
recent  voyagers  for  discovery  in  the  Arctic  regions,  corroborated 
by  some  other  circumstances,  lead  us  to  conclude  that  the  latitude 
of  the  magnetic  pole  (or  poles)  has  the  maxium  of  cold,  and  that 
the  climate  of  the  pole  of  rotation  is  not  so  severe,  we  may  there- 
fore suppose,  without  any  violent  straining  of  theory,  that,  in  the 
perpetual  day  which  reigns  there  for  a  longer  period  than  in  the 
limits  of  their  habitation  southward,  the  polar  bears  range  over 
the  whole  polar  zone,  till  those  confines  where  the  sea  is  too  clear 
of  ice  for  their  habits  ;  and  that  they  are  thus  the  only  animals 
which  have  the  command  of  all  the  meridians  on  the  globe 


HUNTING   THE   AMERICAN    BLACK   BEAR. 


105 


THE    AMERICAN    BLACK   BEAR. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


HE 


HUNTING   THE   AMERICAN   BLACK   BEAR. 

black  bear  is  found  throughout 
North  America,  from  the 
shores  of  the  Arctic  Sea 
to  its  southern  extremity 
That  they  must  have  ex- 
isted in  great  numbers 
throughout  this  extent  of 
country,  before  its  settle- 
ment by  Europeans,  may 
be  easily  believed,  from 
the  immense  number  of 
skins  which  can  even  now  be  procured  of  this  animal.  About 
thirty-six  years  ago,  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  thousand  four 
hundred  and  ninety-seven  bear  skins  were  exported  from  Quebec  ; 
in  the  year  1822,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  exported  three 
thousand  skins  of  the  black  bear. 

On  the  wooded  portions  of  the  rocky  mountains,  Captains  Clark 
and  Lewis  saw  black  bears,  and  subsequently  found  them  on  the 
great  plains  of  the  Columbia,  and  in  the  tract  of  country  lying 
between  these  plains  and  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Occasionally  they 


106  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


are  found  hroughout  the  territories  of  the  United  States,  in  th* 
wooded  ard  mountainous  regions,  and  in  unsettled  districts.  Their 
skins  are  of  great  use  to  the  inhabitants  as  a  substitute  for 
manufactured  woollens,  such  as  blankets,  &c. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  the  black  bear  is  not  remarkable 
for  its  ferocity,  nor  is  it  in  the  habit  of  attacking  man  without 
being  provoked.  When  wounded,  he  turns  on  his  enemy  with 
prodigious  energy  and  defends  himself  daringly.  During  the 
coupling  season,  this  disposition  is  more  fully  shown,  as  the  males 
are  then  more  exsited,  and  are  consequently  Jess  lazy  and  clumsy 
than  they  are  in  the  autumn.  If  this  bear  is  taken  when  young, 
it  is  easily  domesticated,  and  taught  many  tricks  ;  he  is  frequently 
to  be  seen  exhibited  by  showmen  as  a  "  learned"  bear. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  American  continent,  the  subter- 
raneous retreats  of  the  black  bear  may  be  easily  discovered  by 
the  mist  which  uniformly  hangs  about  the  entrance  of  the  den, 
as  the  animal's  heat  and  breathing  prevent  the  mouth  of  the  cave 
from  being  entirely  closed,  however  deep  the  snow  may  be.  As 
the  black  bear  usually  retires  to  his  winter  quarters  before  any 
quantity  of  snow  has  fallen,  and  does  not  again  venture  abroad  till 
the  end  of  March  or  the  beginning  of  April,  he  therefore  spends 
at  least  four  months  in  a  state  of  torpidity,  arid  without  obtaining 
food.  It  is  therefore  not  very  surprising,  though  the  bear  goes 
into  his  winter  quarters  excessively  fat,  that  he  should  come  forth 
in  the  spring  a  melancholy  picture  of  emaciation. 

The  black  bear  is  sometimes  destroyed  by  blocking  up  the 
mouth  of  the  cave  with  logs  of  wood,  and  then  suddenly  break- 
ing open  the  top  of  it,  they  kill  the  animal  with  a  spear  or  gun; 
this  method  is,  however,  considered  both  cowardly  and  wanton,  a? 
the  bear  can  neither  escape  nor  offer  the  slightest  injury  to  his 
merciless  destroyers.  The  northern  Indians  display  great  in- 
genuity in  the  manner  in  which  they  throw  the  noose  around  the 
neck  of  this  animal,  but  the  barbarous  way  in  which  they 
despatch  him  with  the  hatchet  or  tomahawk,  after  having  drawn 
bim  to  the  top  of  his  hole  has  little  in  it  to  admire. 

Sometimes  he  is  caugh*  \n  traps,  strong  steel  ones  chained   to 


HUNTING   THE    AMERICAN    BLACK    BEAR.  109 


BIAR   HUNTERS. 


a  tree  and  laid  in  a  path  which  has  been  partially  stained  with 
blood,  by  drawing  a  newly  killed  carcass  along  it.  At  other  times 
a  noose,  suspended  from  a  strong  bough,  is  substituted  for  the 
trap,  in  a  path  similarly  prepared.  The  bear,  whose  sense  of 
smell  is  exceedingly  keen,  alway  follows  upon  the  track  along 
which  a  dead  animal  has  been  drawn,  even  although  it  has  left 
no  trace  perceptible  by  the  human  senses. 

The  common  mode  of  hunting  this  bear  is  by  two  or  three 
well-trained  dogs.  When  he  finds  that  he  is  pursued,  he  gene 
rally  pushes  forward  for  eight  or  ten  miles,  and  sometimes  more, 
in  nearly  a  straight  course.  But  when  the  dogs  come  up  to  him, 
he  turns  and  strikes  at  them  with  his  paws,  the  blows  of  which 
are  so  severe,  that  one  of  them  taking  effect,  would  instantly  fell 
the  strongest  dog  to  the  ground.  The  great  art  in  training  the 
dogs  consists  in  teaching  them  to  avoid  these  blows,  and  keep 
harassing  the  animal  till  he  is  exhausted.  When  that  is  the 
case,  he  climbs  a  tree  to  the  height  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet,  at 
the  root  of  which  the  dogs  remain  and  "  give  tongue  "  till  the 
hunter  makes  his  appearance.  When  the  hunter  appears,  the 
bear  drops  to  the  ground,  not  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  him, 
but  of  making  a  new  effort  at  escape  from  the  no  v  increased 
number  of  his  pursuers.  But,  as  he  is  heated  by  the  effort  of 
climbing  and  by  the  fall,  though  bears,  from  their  form  and  also 
the  nature  of  their  covering,  fall  with  much  less  injury  than  any 


no 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


other  animal  of  the  same  weight,  he  is  much  more  an  loyecl  by  the 
dogs  than  before.  This  makes  him  take  to  a  tree  again  for  refuge, 
he  then  climbs  as  high  as  it  will  bear  him,  and  endeavors  to  con- 
ceal himself  among  the  thick  foliage.  The  hunter  now  strikes 
against  the  trunk  of  the  tree  as  if  he  were  felling  it,  which  soon 
nuts  the  bear  in  motion.  He  makes  his  way  to  the  extremity  of 
a  long  and  lofty  branch,  at  which  he  draws  himself  partially  into 
the.  form  of  a  ball,  and  drops  down,  often  from  such  a  height  as 
»hat  he  rebounds  up  again  for  several  feet,  as  if  he  were  an 
elastic  substance.  He  rises  again  from  this  fall,  still  uninjured, 
and  seeks  safety  by  flight  as  before.  His  exertions  are,  however 
so  much  greater  than  those  of  his  pursuers,  that,  whatever  may 
be  his  strength,  they  in  time  wear  him  out,  and  he  is  ultimately 
sh.it,  either  when  standing  up  to  give  battle  to  the  dogs,  or  when 
attempting  to  hide  himself  behind  the  trunk  of  a  tree.  Such  is 
the  mode  of  beur  hunting  where  there  are  trees  ;  but  in  the  large 
open  prairies  he  runs  much  farther,  and  the  hunt  is  one  of 
greater  ardor,  unless  when  he  is  shot  at  an  early  stage  ;  but,  if 
the  marksman  is  not  skilful,  shooting  is  rather  a  dangerous 
matter  while  the  bear  is  unexhausted,  as  the  pain  arouses  all  his 
strength,  and  arms  him  with  the  most  desperate  powers  of  revenge 
so  that  he  would  be  too  much  both  for  dogs  and  hunter.  Tree 
in<i  a  bear  in  a  canoe,  as  represented  in  the  opposite  engraving 
is  a  nice  operation ;  but  it  is  not  an  easy  mode  of  captur« 


HUNTING   THE   LLAMA. 


113 


LLAMA. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

HUNTING   THE   LLAMA. 


i  APT.  GEORGE  SHELVOCKE,  rm 
'    Englishman,  who  sailed   round  the 
world  in  1719-22,  thus  describes  the 
llamas  which   he   saw  at  Arica  in 


"  For  the  carriage  of  the  guana  the  people  at 
Arica  generally  use  that  sort  of  little  camels 
which  the  Indians  of  Peru  call  llamas ;  the 
Chilese,  chilihneque ;  and  the  Spaniards,  cameras  de  la  tierra,  or 
na*ive  sheep.  The  heads  of  these  animals  are  small  in  proportion 


114  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


to  their  bodies,  and  are  somewhat  in  shape  between  the  head  of  a 
horse  and  that  of  a  sheep,  the  upper  lip  being  cleft,  like  that  of  a 
hare,  through  which  they  can  spit  to  the  distance  of  ten  paces 
against  any  one  who  offends  them ;  and  if  the  spittle  happens  to 
fall  on  the  face  of  a  person,  it  causes  a  red,  itchy  spot.  Their 
necks  are  long  and  concavely  bent  downwards,  like  that  of  a  carnel, 
which  animal  they  greatly  resemble,  except  in  having  no  bunch  on 
their  backs,  and  in  being-  much  smaller.  Their  ordinary  height  is 
from  four  feet  to  four  and  a  half,  and  their  ordinary  burden  does 
not  exceed  an  hundred  weight.  They  walk,  holding  up  their 
heads,  with  wonderful  gravity,  and  at  so  regular  a  pace,  as  no 
beating  can  quicken.  At  night  it  is  impossible  to  make  them  move 
with  their  loads,  for  they  lie  down  till  these  are  taken  off,  and  then 
go  to  graze.  Their  ordinary  food  is  a  sort  of  grass,  called  yeho, 
somewhat  like  a  small-  rush,  but  finer,  and  has  a  sharp  point,  with 
which  all  the  mountains  are  covered  exclusively.  They  eat  little, 
and  never  drink,  so  that  they  are  easily  maintained.  They  have 
cloven  feet,  like  sheep,  and  are  used  at  the  mines  to  carry  ore  to 
the  mills  ;  and,  as  soon  as  loaded  they  set  off  without  any  guide  to 
the  place  where  they  are  usually  unloaded. 

u  They  have  a  sort  of  spur  above  the  foot,  which  renders  them 
sure-footed  among  the  rocks,  as  it  serves  as  a  sort  of  hook  to  hold 
by.*  Their  hair,  or  wool  rather,  is  long,  white,  gray,  and  russet, 
in  spots,  and  fine,  but  much  inferior  to  that  of  the  vicunna  (vigoriia,j 
and  has  a  strong  and  disagreeable  scent. 

"  The  vicunna  is  shaped  much  like  the  llama,  but  much  smaller 
nnd  lighter,  their  wool  being  extraordinarily  fine,  and  much  valued. 
Those  animals  are  often  hunted  after  the  following  manner  : — Many 
Indians  gather  together,  and  drive  them  into  some  narrow  pass 
across  which  they  have  previously  extended  cords  about  four  feet 
from  the  ground,  having  bits  of  wool  or  cloth  hanging  to  their;  at 
small  distances.  This  so  frightens  them  that  they  dare  no.,  pass, 
and  they  gather  together  in  a  string,  when  the  Indians  kill  thenr. 
with  stones  tied  to  the  ends  of  leather  thongs.  Should  any  guan.icos 

*  This  is  fabulous. 


HUNTING    THE    LLAMA.  115 


haj  pen  to  be  among  the  flock,  these  leap  over  the  cords,  ari'l  are 
followed  by  all  the  vicunnas.  These  gnanacoa  are  larger  and  more 
corpulent,  and  are  also  called  viscachas. 

•'There  is  yet  another  animal  of  this  kind  called  alpagnes  (alpa- 
cas,) having  wool  of  extraordinary  fineness;  but  their  legs  are 
shorter,  and  their  snouts  contracted  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  give 
them  some  resemblance  to  the  human  countenance. 

"The  Indians  make  several  uses  of  these  creatures;  some  of 
which  carry  burdens  of  about  an  hundred  weight.  Their  wooi 
serves  to  make  stuffs,  cords,  and  sacks ;  their  bones  are  used  fo< 
the  construction  of  weaver's  utensils;  and  their  dung  is  employei 
as  fuel  for  dressing  meat  and  warming  their  huts."* 

The  mode  of  killing  the  vigonias,  described  by  Shelvocke,  pre 
vails  in  Chili  and  Peru  at  the  present  day.  It  is  affirmed  that 
eighty  thousand  are  thus  killed  every  year  solely  for  their  wool, 
and  that  the  species  does  not  appear  to  diminish,!  Gregoire  de 
Bolivar  says,  that  in  his  time  the  llamas  were  so  numerous,  that 
four  millions  were  killed  every  year  for  their  flesh,  and  that  three 
hundred  thousand  were  employed  at  the  mines  of  Potosi.  The 
extraordinary  multiplication  of  animal  life  in  South  America  is 
familiar  to  every  reader :  the  pampas  are  covered  with  troops  of 
wild  horses,  and  the  oxen  are  slaughtered  by  hundreds  for  their 
skins  alone.  In  the  Memoirs  of  General  Miller,  an  Englishman  in 
the  service  of  the  republic  of  Peru,  it  is  stated,  that  wood  was 
formerly  so  scarce  and  cattle  so  plentiful,  that  sheep  were  driven 
into  the  furnaces  of  limekilns,  in  order  to  answer  the  purposes  of 
fuel ;  and  that  a  decree  of  the  king  of  Spain,  prohibiting  this  barba- 
rous custom,  is  still  preserved  in  the  archives  of  Buenos  Ayres. 

This  extraordinary  abundance  of  animal  food,  and  the  equal 
fertility  of  many  di.-tricts,  where  the  finest  fruits  grow  spontaneously, 
and  only  require  the  trouble  of  being  gathered,  has  had  a  marked 
effect  in  retarding  the  improvement  of  the  natives  of  South  America. 
They  are  neither  a  pastrmxl  nor  an  agricultural  people  ;  and  thus. 

surrounded  by  partial  civilization,  they  remain  without  any  excite 

* 

*  Kerr's  Collection  of  Voyages,  vol.  x.  p.  462.        f  Diet.  Classique. 


116 


HUNTING    ADVENT!  RES. 


ment  to  labor,  which  alone  could  improve  their  moral  and  physical 
condition.  Humboiut  has  beautifully  described  the  state  of  primitive 
rudeness  in  which  many  of  the  tribes  of  South  America  remain- 
partly  from  their  geographical  position,  and  partly  from  the  spon- 
taneous bounty  of  their  climate  : — 

«  When  we  attentively  examine  this  wild  part  of  America,  we 
appear  to  be  carried  back  to  the  first  ages,  when  the  earth  was 
peopled  step  by  step — we  seem  to  assist  at  the  birth  of  human 
societies.  In  the  Old  World,  we  behold  the  pastoral  life  prepare 
a  people  of  huntsmen  for  the  agricultural  life.  In  the  New  World, 
we  look  in  vain  for  these  progressive  developments  of  civilization — 
these  moments  of  repose — these  resting-places  in  the  life  of  a  people. 
The  luxury  of  vegetation  embarrasses  the  Indian  in  the  chase.  As 
the  rivers  are  like  arms  of  the  sea,  the  depth  of  the  water  for  many 
months  prevents  their  fishing.  Those  species  of  ruminating  animals 
which  constitute  the  riches  of  the  people  of  the  Old  World,  are 
wanting  in  the  New.  The  bison  and  the  musk-ox  have  not  yet 
been  reduced  to  the  domestic  state ;  the  enormous  multiplication 
of  the  llama  and  the  guanaco  has  not  produced  in  the  natives  the 
habits  of  the  past&ral  life." 


HUNTING   THE   REIN-DEEK. 


117 


THE   REIN-DEER. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

HUNTING   THE    REIN-DEER- 


HE  REIN  DEER  is  found  in  Ktoat 
of  the  northern  regions  of  Europe, 
Asia,  and  America.  Its  general 
height  is  about  four  feet  and  a  half. 
The  color  is  brown  above  and  white 
beneath ;  but  as  the  animal  advances 
in  age  it  often  becomes  of  a  grayish 
white.  The  hoofs  are  long,  large, 
and  black.  Both  sexes  are  furnished 
with  horns,  but  those  of  the  male  are 
much  the  largest.  To  the  Laplanders  this  animal  is  the  substitute 
for  the  horse,  the  cow,  the  goat,  and  the  sheep :  and  is  their  only 
wealth.  The  milk  affords  them  cheese  ;  the  flesh  food  ;  the  skin, 
clothing ;  of  the  tendons  they  make  bow-strings,  and  when  split, 
thread  ;  of  the  horns,  glue ;  and  of  the  bones,  spoons.  During  the 
winter,  the  Rein-deer  supplies  the  want  of  a  horse,  and  draws 
sledges  with  amazing  swiftness  over  the  frozen  lakes  and  rivers,  or 
over  the  snow,  which  at  that  time  covers  the  whole  country.  Ir^ 


US  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


numerable  are  the  uses,  the  comforts,  and  advantages  which  the 
poor  inhabitants  of  this  dreary  climate  derive  from  this  animal. 
We  cannot  sum  them  up  better  than  in  the  beautiful  language  of 
the  poet : — 

Their  Rein-deer  form  their  riches.     These  their  tents, 
Their  robes,  their  beds,  and  all  their  homely  wealth 
Supply,  their  wholesome  fare,  and  cheerful  cups: 
Obsrquiou    at  their  call,  the  docile  tribe 
Yield  to  the  sled  their  necks,  and  whirl  them  swift 
O'er  hill  and  dale,  heaped  into  one  expanse 
Of  marbled  snow,  as  far  as  eye  can  sweep, 
Wit.  i   i  blue  crii-t  of  ice  unbounded  glazed. 

The  mode  of  hunting  the  wild  rein-deer  by  the  Laplanders,  the 
Esquimaux,  and  the  Indians  of  North  America,  have  been  accurately 
described  by  various  travellers.  We  select  the  following  accounts 
from  the  interesting  narratives  of  Captain  Lyon  and  Captain  Frank- 
lin. Captain  Lyon  says: — 

"The  rein-deer  visits  the  polar  regions  at  the  latter  end  of  May 
or  the  early  part  of  June,  and  remains  until  late  in  September.  On 
his  first  arrival  he  is  thin,  and  his  flesh  is  tasteless,  but  the  short 
summer  is  sufficient  to  fatten  him  to  two  or  three  inches  on  the 
haunches.  When  feeding  on  the  level  ground,  an  Esquimaux 
mak«8  no  attempt  to  approach  him,  but  should  a  few  rocks  be  near, 
the  wary  hunter  feels  secure  of  his  prey.  Behind  one  of  these  he 
cautiously  creeps,  and  having  laid  himself  very  close,  with  his 
bow  and  arrow  before  him,  he  imitates  the  bellow  of  the  deer  when 
calling  to  each  other.  Sometimes,  for  more  complete  deception, 
the  hunter  wears  his  deer-skin  coat  and  hood  so  drawn  over  his 
head  as  to  resemble,  in  a  great  measure,  the  unsuspecting  animal 
he  is  enticing.  Though  the  bellow  proves  a  considerable  attrac- 
tion, yet  if  a  man  has  great  patience  he  may  do  without  it,  and 
may  be  equally  certain  that  his  prey  will  ultimately  come  to  ex- 
amine him;  the  rein-deer  being  an  inquisitive  animal,  and  at  the 
same  time  so  silly,  that  if  he  sees  any  suspicious  object  which  is 
not  actually  chasing  him,  he  will  gradually,  and  after  many  caper- 
ings,  and  forming  repeated  circles,  approach  nearer  and  nearer  to 
it.  The  Esquimaux  rarely  shoot  until  the  creature  is  within  twelve 
paces,  and  [  have  frequently  been  told  of  their  being  killed  at  a 


HUNTING    THE    REIN-DEER. 

much  shrrter  distance.  It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  hunters  nevei 
appear  openly,  but  employ  stratagem  for  their  purpose ;  thus,  by 
patience  and  ingenuity,  rendering  their  rudely-formed  bows,  and 
stiJl  worse  arrows,  as  effective  as  the  rifles  of  Europeans.  When 
two  men  hunt  in  company,  they  sometimes  purposely  show  them- 
selves to  the  deer,  and  when  his  attention  is  fully  engaged,  walk 
slowly  away  from  him,  one  before  the  other.  The  deer  follows, 
and  when  the  hunters  arrive  near  a  stone,  the  foremost  drops  behind 
it  and  prepares  his  bow,  while  his  companion  continues  walking 
steadily  forward.  This  latter,  the  uc°.r  still  follows  unsuspectingly, 
and  thus  passes  near  the  concealed  man  who  takes  a  deliberate 
aim  and  kills  the  animal.  When  the  deer  assemble  in  herds, 
there  are  particular  passes  which  they  invariably  take,  and  on 
being  driven  to  them  are  killed  by  arrows  by  the  men,  while  the 
women  with  shouts  drive  them  to  the  water.  Here  they  swim 
with  the  ease  and  activity  of  water-dogs,  the  people  in  kayaks 
chasing  and  easily  spearing  them  ;  the  carcasses  float,  and  the 
hunter  then  presses  forward  and  kills  as  many  as  he  finds  in  his 
track.  No  springs  or  traps  are  used  in  the  capture  of  these  animals, 
as  is  practised  to  the  southward,  in  consequence  of  the  total  absence 
of  standing  wood."* 

Captain  Franklin  describes  the  mode  in  which  the  Dog-rib 
Indians  kill  the  rein-deer,  which  he  had  from  Mr.  Wentzel. 

"  The  hunters  go  in  pairs,  the  foremost  man  carrying  in  one 
hand  the  horns  and  part  of  the  skin  of  the  head  of  a  deer,  and  in 
the  other  a  small  bundle  of  twigs,  against  which  he,  from  time  to 
time,  rubs  the  horns,  imitating  the  gestures  peculiar  to  the  animal 
His  comrade  follows,  treading  exactly  in  his  footsteps,  and  holding 
the  guns  of  both  in  a  horizontal  position,  so  that  the  muzzles  project 
under  the  arms  of  him  who  carries  the  head.  Both  hunters  have 
A  fillet  of  white  skin  round  their  foreheads,  and  the  foremost  has  a 
strip  of  the  same  round  his  wrists.  They  approach  the  herd  by 
degrees,  raising  their  legs  very  slowly,  but  setting  them  down  some- 
what suddenly,  after  the  manner  of  a  deer,  and  always  taking 
care  to  lift  their  right  or  left  feet  simultaneously.  If  any  of  the 

*  Private  Journal. 


120  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


iiercl  leave  off  feeding  to  gaze  upon  this  extraordinary  phenomenon, 
it  instantly  stops,  and  the  head  begins  to  play  its  part  by  licking 
ats  shoulders,  and  performing  other  necessary  movements.  In  this 
way  the  hunters  attain  the  very  centre  of  the  herd  without  exciting 
suspicion,  and  have  leisure  to  single  out  the  fattest.  The  hindmost 
man  then  pushes  forward  his  comrade's  gun,  the  head  is  dropped, 
And  they  both  fire  nearly  at  the  same  instant.  The  deer  scamper 
off,  the  hunters  trot  after  them :  in  a  short  time  the  poor  animals 
hait  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  their  terror ;  their  foes  stop  at  the 
same  moment,  and  having  loaded  as  they  ran,  greet  the  gazers 
with  a  second  fatal  discharge.  The  consternation  of  the  deer  in- 
creases ;  and  sometimes  a  great  part  of  the  herd  is  destroyed 
within  the  space  of  a  few  hundred  yards." 

In  a  country  which  affords  such  an  uncertain  supply  of  food, 
and  whose  climate  is  so  severe,  through  a  great  part  of  the  year,  as 
Lapland,  the  progress  of  civilization  can  never  be  very  considerable. 
The  people  must  of  necessity  lead  a  wandering  life,  uniting  the 
hunting  and  the  pastoral  character ;  but  incapable,  from  physical 
causes,  of  pursuing  the  arts  of  agriculture,  or  entering  largely  into 
the  communications  of  commerce.  But  what  civilization  exists,  or 
may  exist  amongst  them,  is  wholly  to  be  ascribed  to  their  best 
possession — the  rein-deer.  It  is  not,  therefore,  incompatible  with 
the  great  arrangements  by  which  the  universe  has  been  created, 
and  is  supported,  to  believe  that  the  rein-deer  has  been  specially 
bestowed  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  polar  regions,  as  an  improve- 
ment of  their  necessary  lot,  in  the  same  way  that  the  locality  of 
the  camel  has  been  fixed  in  the  sandy  and  stony  deserts  of  Asia 
and  Africa.  The  poor  Laplander  knows  the  value  of  the  faithful 
cieature  which  affords  him  food,  clothing,  and  the  means  of  trans- 
port ;  and  he  offers  his  homage  of  thanksgiving  to  the  Great  Author 
of  nature,  who  has  given  him  this  companion  of  his  wanderings. 
Whether  the  native  of  the  polar  regions  hunt  the  wild  deer  amidst 
the  icy  mountains, — be  hurried  by  his  aid  across  the  frozen  wastes,-— 
or  wander  with  his  family  and  his  herds,  till  the  long  winter  begins, 
almost  without  any  gradation,  to  succeed  the  short  summer, — the  lives 
vf  the  Laplander  and  of  thf  -em-deer  are  inseparably  united. 


MR.  GEORGE   C/TLIN 


A    BISON   HUNT. 


123 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

A   BISON   HUNT   OF   MR.    CATLIN   AND   M.    CHARDON. 

R.  GEORGE  CATLIN,  an  Ameri- 
can  artist,  resided  for  many  years 
among  the  wildest  of  the  Western 
Indians,  of  whose  manners,  cus- 
toms, and  character,  he  has  given 
the  most  lively  and  amusing 
description  in  his  <*  Letters  and 
Notes."  From  this  work  we 
copy  the  following  extract,  which 
includes  an  account  of.  one  of  his 
hunting  excursions,  while  he  was  in  the  Indian  country. 

The  several  tribes  of  Indians  inhabiting  the  regions  of  the  Upper 
Missouri,  are  undoubtedly  the  finest  looking,  best  equipped,  and 
most  beautifully  costumed  of  any  on  the  Continent.  They  live  in 
a  country  well-stocked  with  buffaloes  and  wild  horses,  which  furnish 
them  an  excellent  and  easy  living  ;  their  atmosphere  is  pure,  which 
produces  good  health  and  long  life  :  and  they  are  the  most  inde- 
pendent and  the  happiest  races  of  Indians  I  have  met  with ;  they 
are  all  entirely  in  a  state  of  primitive  wildness,  and  consequently 
are  picturesque  and  handsome,  almost  beyond  description.  Nothing 


124  HUNTINO    Y.  m'KNTURES. 


'i.  the  world,  of  its  kind,  can  possibly  surpass  in  beauty  and  grace, 
some  of  their  games  and  amusements — their  gambols  and  parades, 
if  which  I  shall  speak  an  I  paint  hereafter. 

As  far  as  my  travels  have  yet  led  me  into  the  Indian  country,  1 
nave  more  than  realized  my  former  predictions,  that  these  Indians 
who  could  be  found  most  entirely  in  a  state  of  nature,  with  the 
least  knowledge  of  civilized  society,  would  be  found  to  be  the  most 
cleanly  in  their  persons,  elegant  in  their  dress  and  manners,  and 
enjoying  life  to  the  greatest  perfection.  Of  such  tribes,  perhaps 
the  Crows  and  Blackfeet  stand  first ;  and  no  one  would  be  able  to 
appreciate  the  richness  and  elegance  (and  even  taste,  too,)  with 
which  some  of  these  people  dress,  without  seeing  them  in  their 
own  country.  1  will  do  all  I  can,  however,  to  make  their  looks  as 
well  as  customs  known  to  the  world ;  I  will  paint  with  my  brush 
and  scribble  with  my  pen,  and  bring  their  plumes  and  plumage, 
dresses,  weapons,  &c.,  and  every  thing  but  the  Indian  himself,  to 
prove  to  the  world  the  assertions -which  I  have  made  above. 

Every  one  of  these  red  sons  of  the  forest  (or  rather  of  the  prairie j 
is  a  knight  and  lord — his  squaws  are  his  slaves ;  the  only  things 
which  -he  deems  worthy  of  his  exertions  are  to  mount  his  snorting 
steed,  with  his  bow  and  quiver  shuvg,  his  arrow-shield  upon  his 
arm,  and  his  'long  lance  glistening  in  the  war-parade  ;  or,  divested 
of  all  his  plumes  and  trappings,  armed  with  a  simple  bow  and 
quiver,  to  plunge  his  steed  amongst  the  flying  herds  of  buffaloes, 
and  with  his  sinewy  bow,  which  he  seldom  bends  in  vain,  to  drive 
deep  to  life's  fountain  the  whizzing  arrow. 

The  buffalo  herds,  which  graze  in  almost  countless  numbers  on 
these  beautiful  prairies,  afford  them  an  abundance  of  meat ;  and 
so  much  is  it  preferred  to  all  other,  that  the  deer,  the  elk,  and  the 
antelope  sport  upon  the  prairies  in  herds  in  the  greatest  security; 
as  the  Indians  seldom  kill  them,  unless  they  want  their  skins  for  a 
dress.  The  buffalo  (or  more  correctly  speaking,  bison)  is  a  noble 
animal  that  roanis  over  the  vast  prairies,  from  the  borders  of  Mexico 
on  the  south,  to  Hudson's  Bay  on  the  north.  Their  size  is  some 
what  above  that  of  our  common  bullock,  and  their  flesh  of  a  delicious 
flavor,  resembling  and  equalling  that  of  fat  beef.  Their  flesh 


A    BISON    HUNT 


AMERICAN    BISON.      FEMALE    IN    THE    DISTANCE. 

whch  is  easily  procured,  furnishes  the  savages  of  these  vast  regions 
the  means  of  a  wholesome  and  good  subsistence,  and  they  live 
almost  exclusively  upon  it — converting  the  skins,  horns,  hoofs  and 
bones,  to  the  construction  of  dresses,  shields,  bows,  &c.  The 
buffalo  bull  is  one  of  the  most  formidable  and  frightful  looking 
animals  in  the  world  when  excited  to  resistance  :  his  long  shaggy 
mane  hangs  in  great  profusion  over  his  neck  and  shoulders,  and 
often  extends  quite  down  to  the  ground.  The  cow  is  less  in 
stature,  and  less  ferocious  ;  though  not  much  less  wild  and  frightful 
in  her  appearance. 

The  mode  in  which  these  Indians  kill  this  noble  animal  is  spirited 
and  thrilling  in  the  extreme;  and  I  must  in  a  future  epistle,  give 
you  a  minute  account  of  it.  I  have  almost  daily  accompanh  d 
parties  of  Indians  to  see  the  fun,  and  have  often  shared  in  it  myself; 
but  much  oftener  ran  my  horse  by  their  sides,  to  see  how  the  thing 
was  done — to  study  the  modes  and  expressions  of  lheL.e  splendil 
•cenes,  which  I  am  industriously  putting  upon  the  canvaa. 


128  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


They  are  all  (or  nearly  so)  killed  with  arrows  and  tht  lance, 
while  at  full  speed;  and  the  reader  may  eajily  imagine,  that  these 
scenes  afiord  the  most  spirited  and  picturesque  views  of  the  sporting 
kind  that  can  possibly  be  seen. 

At  present  I  will  give  a  little  sketch  of  a  bit  of  fun  I  joined  in 
festerd?y,  with  Mr.  M'Kenzie  and  a  number  of  his  men,  without 
the  company  or  aid  of  Indians. 

I  mentioned  the  other  day,  that  M'Kenzie's  table  from  day  to 
Jay  groans  under  the  weight  of  buffalo  tongues  and  beaver's  tails, 
and  other  luxuries  of  this  western  land.  He  has  within  his  Fort 
a  spacious  ice-house,  in  which  he  preserves  his  meat  fresh  for  any 
length  of  time  required  :  and  sometimes,  when  his  larder  ru«s  low, 
He  starts  out,  rallying  some  five  or  six  of  his  best  hunters  (not  to 
hunt,  but  to  "go  for  meat").  He  leads  the  party,  mounted  on  his 
favorite  buffalo  horse  fi.  e.  the  horse  amongst  his  whole  group 
tfhich  is  best  trained  to  run  the  buffalo,)  trailing  a  light  and  short 
gun  in  his  hand,  such  an  one  as  he  can  most  easily  reload  whilrt 
his  horse  is  at  full  speed. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  the  ice-house  yesterday  morning, 
which  caused  these  self-catering  gentlemen  to  cast  their  eyes  with 
a  wishful  look  over  the  prairies  ;  and  such  was  the  plight  in  which 
our  host  took  the  lead,  and  I,  and  then  Mons.  Chardon,  and  Ba'tiste 
Defonde  and  Tullock  (who  is  a  trader  amongst  the  Crown,  and  is 
here  at  this  time,  with  a  large  party  of  that  tribe,)  and  there  Were 
several  others  whose  names  I  do  not  know. 

As  we  were  mounted  and  ready  to  start,  M'Kenzie  called  up 
.iome  four  or  five  of  his  men,  and  told  them  to  follow  immediately 
on  our  trail,  with  as  many  one-horse  carts,  which  they  were  to 
harness  up,  to  bring  home  the  meat ;  "ferry  them  across  the  ri.ei 
in  a  scow,"  said  he,  "and  following  our  trail  through  the  bottom, 
you  will  find  us  on  the  plain  yonder,  between  the  Yellow  Stone 
and  Missouri  rivers,  with  meat  enough  t:>  load  you  home.  My 
watch  on  yonder  bluff  has  just  told  us  by  his  signals,  that  there  are 
cattle  a  plenty  on  that  spot,  and  we  are  going  there  as  fast  as 
possible."  We  all  crossed  the  river,  and  galloped  away  a  couple 
of  miles  or  so,  when  we  mounted  the  bluff;  and  to  be  sure  as  was 


A    BISON    HUNT.  131 


eaid,  mere  was  n  full  view  of  us  a  fine  herd  of  some  four  or  five 
hundred  buffaloes,  perfectly  at  rest,  and  in  their  own  estimation 
(probably)  perfectly  secure.  Some  were  grazing,  and  others  were 
lying  d(  vvn  and  sleeping;  we  advanced  within  a  mile  or  so  of  them 
in  full  view,  and  came  to  a  halt.  Mons.  Chardon  u  tossed  the 
feather"  (a  custom  always  observed,  to  try  the  course  of  the  wind,.) 
and  we  commenced  "stripping"  as  it  is  termed  (i.  e.  every  man 
strips  himself  and  his  horse  of  every  extraneous  and  unnecessary 
appendage  of  dress,  &c.,  that  might  be  an  incumbrance  in  running  :) 
hats  are  laid  off,  and  coats,  and  bullet  pouches;  sleeves  are  rolled  up, 
a  handkerchief  tied  tightly  around  the  head,  and  another  around  the 
waist — cartridges  are  prepared  and  placed  in  the  waistcoat  pocket, 
or  a  half  a  dozen  bullets  "  th rowed  into  the  mouth,"  &c.,  &c.,  all 
of  which  takes  up  some  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  and  is  not,  in  appear 
ance  or  in  effect,  unlike  a  council  of  war.  Our  leader  lays  the 
whole  plan  of  the  chase,  and  preliminaries  all  fixed,  guns  charged 
and  ramrods  in  our  hands,  we  mount  and  start  for  the  onset.  The 
horses  are  all  trained  for  this  business,  and  seem  to  enter  into  it 
with  as  much  enthusiasm,  and  with  as  restless  a  spirit  as  the  riders 
themselves.  While  "stripping"  and  mounting,  they  exhibit  the 
most  restless  impatience;  and  when  "approaching" — (which  is, 
all  of  us  abreast,  upon  a  slow  walk,  and  in  a  straight  line  towards 
the  herd,  until  they  discover  us  and  run,)  they  all  seem  to  have 
caught  entirely  the  spirit  of  the  chase,  for  the  laziest  rug  Amongst 
them  prances  with  an  elasticity  in  his  step — champing  his  ar — hi« 
ears  erect — his  eyes  strained  out  of  his  head,  and  fixed  upor  Jie 
game  before  him,  whilst  1m  trembles  under  the  saddle  of  his  rider 
In  '.his  way  we  carefully  and  silently  marched,  until  within  som* 
forty  or  fifty  rods ;  when  the  herd  discovering  us,  wheeled  and 
laid  their  course  in  a  mass.  At  this  instant  we  started  !  (and  all 
must  start,  for  no  one  could  check  the  fury  of  those  steeds  at  that 
moment  of  excitement,)  and  away  all  sailed,  and  over  the  prairie 
flew,  in  a  cloud  of  dust  which  was  raised  by  their  trampling  hoofs. 
MtKenzie  was  foremost  in  the  throng,  and  soon  dashed  off  amidst 
the  dust  and  was  out  of  sight — he  was  after  the  fattest  and  the 
fastest.  I  had  discovered  a  huge  bull  whose  shoulders  towered 


132  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


above  the  whole  band,  and  I  picked  my  way  through  the  c.  owd  to 
get  alongside  of  him.  I  went  not  for  "  meat,"  but  for  a  trophy  f 
I  wanted  his  head  and  horns.  I  dashed  along  through  the  thunder- 
ing mass,  as  they  swept  away  over  the  plain,  scarcely  able  to  tell 
whether  I  was  on  a  buffalo's  back  or  my  horse — hit,  and  hooked, 
and  jostled  abc.ut,  till  at  length  I  found  myself  alongside  of  my 
game,  when  I  gave  him  a  shot,  as  I  passed  him.  I  saw  guns  flash 
in  several  directions  about  me,  but  I  heard  them  not.  Amidst  the 
trampling  throng,  Mons.  Chardon  had  wounded  a  stately  bull  aid 
at  this  moment  was  passing  him  again  with  his  piece  levellec  'or 
another  shot ;  they  were  both  at  full  speed  and  I  also,  within  the 
reach  of  the  muzzle  of  my  gun,  when  the  bull  instantly  turned 
and  receiving  the  horse  upon  his  horns,  the  ground  received  poor 
Chardon,  who  made  a  frog's  leap  of  some  twenty  feet  or  more  over 
the  bull's  back,  and  almost  under  my  horse's  heels.  I  wheeled 
my  horse  as  soon  as  possible  and  rode  back,  where  lay  poor  Char- 
don, gasping  to  start  his  breath  again ;  and  within  a  few  paces  of 
him  his  huge  victim,  with  his  heels  high  in  the  air,  and  the  hoise 
lying  across  him.  I  dismounted  instantly,  but  Chardon  was  raising 
himself  on  his  hands,  with  his  eyes  and  mouth  full  of  dirt,  and 
feeling  for  his  gun,  which  lay  about  thirty  feet  in  advance  of  him. 

"  Heaven  spare  you  !  are  you  hurt,  Chardon  ?"  "  Hi — hie hie 

hie hie hie no, 

hie no— — no,  I  believe    not.     Oh  !    this  is    not   much, 

Mons.  Cataline — this  is  nothing  new — but  this  is  a  hard  piece  of 
ground  here — hie — oh  !  hie  !"  At  this  the  poor  fellow  fainted,  but 
in  a  few  monents  arose,  picked  up  his  gun,  took  his  horse  by  the 
bit ;  which  then  opened  its  eyes,  and  with  a  hie  and  a  ugh — UGHK  ! 
sprang  upon  its  feet — shook  off  the  dirt — and  here  we  were,  all 
upon  our  legs  again,  save  the  bull,  whose  fate  had  been  more  ?ad 
than  that  c .f  either. 

I  turned  my  eyes  in  the  direction  where  the  herd  had  gone,  and 
our  companions  in  pursuit,  and  nothing  could  be  seen  of  them,  nor 
indication,  except  the  cloud  of  dust  which  they  left  behind  them. 
At  a  little  distance  on  the  right,  however,  I  beheld  my  huge  victim 
endeavoring  to  make  as  much  head-way  as  he  possibly  could 


A    BISON    JIUNT.  133 


from  this  dangerous  ground,  upon  thr6e  legs..  I  galloped  ofF  to 
him,  and  at  my  approach  he  wheeled  around — and  bristled  up  for 
battle ;  he  seemed  to  know  perfectly  well  that  he  could' not  escape 
from  me,  and  resolved  to  meet  his  enemy  and  death  ;ts  bravely  as 
possible. 

I  found  that  my  shot  had  entered  him  a  little  too  far  forward, 
breaking  one  of  his  shoulders,  and  lodging  in  his  breast,  and  from 
his  very  great  weight  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  make  much 
advance  upon  me.  As  I  rode  up  within  a  few  paces  of  him,  he 
would  bristle  up  with  fury  enough  in  his  looks  alone,  almost  to 
annihilate  me;  and  making  one  lunge  at  me,  would  fall  upon  his 
neck  and  nose,  so  that  I  found  the  sagacity  of  my  horse  alone 
em  ugh  to  keep  me  out  of  reach  of  danger:  and  I  drew  from  my 
pocket  my  sketch-book,  laid  my  gun  across  my  lap,  and  commenced 
taking  his  likeness.  He  stood  stiffened  up,  and  swelling  with 
awful-vengeance,  which  was  sublime  for  a  picture,  but  which  he 
could  not  vent  upon  me.  I  rode  around  him  and  sketched  him  in 
numerous  attitudes ;  sometimes  he  would  lie  down,  and  I  would 
then  sketch  him ;  then  throw  my  cap  at  him,  and  rousing  him  on 
his  legs,  rally  a  new  expression,  and  sketch  him  again. 

In  this  way  I  added  to  my  sketch-book  some  invaluable  sketches 
of  this  grim-visaged  monster,  who  knew  not  that  he  was  standing 
for  his  likeness. 

No  man  on  earth  can  imagine  what  is  the  look  and  expression 
of  such  a  subject  before  him  as  this  was.  I  defy  the  world  to  pro- 
duce another  animal  that  can  look  so  frightful  as  a  huge  buffalo 
bull,  when  wounded  as  he  was,  turned  round  for  battle,  and  swell- 
ing with  rage  ; — his  eyes  bloodshot,  and  his  long  shaggy  mane 
hanging  to  the  ground, — his  mouth  open,  and  his  horrid  rnge 
hissing  in  streams  of  smoke  and  blood  from  his  mouth  and  through 
his  nostrils,  as  he  is  bending  forward  to  spring  upon  his  assailant. 

After  I  had  had  the  requisite  time  and  opportunity  for  using  my 
pencil,  M<  Kenzie  and  his  companions  came  walking  their  exhausted 
horses  back  from  the  chase,  and  in  our  rear  came  four  or  five  carta 
to  carry  home  the  meat.  The  party  met  from  all  quarters  around 
me  and  my  buffalo  bull,  whom  I  then  shot  in  the  head  and  finished 


134 


HUNTING     ADVENTUKES. 


And  being  seated  together  for  a  few  minutes,  each  one  took  a  sri.oke 
of  the  pipe,  and  recited  his  exploits,  and  his  "coups"  or  oeaths ; 
when  all  parties-had  a  hearty  laugh  at  me,  as  a  novice,  for  naving 
aimed  at  an  old  bull,  whose  flesh  was  not  suitable  for  food,  and  the 
carts  were  escorted  on  the  trail,  to  bring  away  the  meat.  I  rode 
back  with  Mr.  M'Kenzie,  who  pointed  out  five  cows  which  he  had 
killed,  and  all  of  them  selected  as  the  fattest  and  sleekest  of  the 
herd.  This  astonishing  feat  was  all  performed  within  the  distance 
of  one  mile — all  were  killed  at  full  speed,  and  every  one  shot 
through  the  heart.  In  the  short  space  of  time  required  for  a  horse 
under  "full  whip,"  to  run  the  distance  of  one  mile,  he  had  dis- 
charged his  gun  five,  and  loaded  it  four  times — selected  his  animals, 
and  killed  at  every  shot !  There  were  six  or  eight  others  killed 
at  the  same  time,  which  altogether  furnished,  as  will  be  seen, 
abundance  of  freight  for  the  carts  ;  which  returned,  as  well  as 
several  packhorses,  loaded  with  the  choicest  parts,  which  were  cut 
from  the  animals,  and  the  remainder  of  the  carcasses  left  a  prey  for 
the  wolves. 

Such  is  the  mode  by  which  white  men  live  in  this  country — such 
the  way  in  which  they  get  their  food,  and  such  is  one  of  their 
delightful  amusements — at  the  hazard  of  every  bone  in  one's  body, 
to  feel  the  fine  and  thrilling  exhilaration  of  the  chase  for  a  moment, 
and  then  as  often  to  upbraid  and  blame  himself  for  his  f  jlly  and 
imprudence. 


A    BISHOP    HUNTING    THE    TiGER. 


135 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A    BISHOP    HUNTING    THE    TIGER. 

HE  late  excellent  Bishop  Heber,  in  his  jounv.i, 
has  given  a  narrative  of  the  mode  in  which  a 
tiger-hunt  is  conducted,  full  of  picturesque  effect, 
and  striking  from  its  minute  detail: 

"At  Kulleanpoor,  the  young  Raja  Gourman 
Singh  mentioned,  in  the  course  of  conversation, 
that  there  was  a  tiger  in  an  adjoining  tope  which 
had  done  a  good  deal  of  mischief;  that  he  should  have  gone  after 
it  himself  had  he  not  been  ill,  and  had  he  not  thought  it  would  be 
a  fine  diversion  for  Mr.  Boulderson,  the  collector  of  the  district,  and 
me.  I  told  him  I  was  no  sportsman,  but  Mr.  Boulderson's  eyes 
sparkled  at  the  name  of  tiger,  and  he  expressed  great  anxiety  to 
beat  up  his  quarters  in  the  afternoon.  Under  such  circumstances, 
I  did  not  like  to  deprive  him  of  his  sport,  as  he  would  not  leave  me 
by  myself,  and  went,  though  with  no  intention  of  being  more  than  a 
epetactor.  Mr.  Boulderson,  however,  advised  me  to  load  my 


136  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


pistols  for  the  sake  of  defence,  and  lent  me  a  very  fine  double 
barrelled  gun  for  the  same  purpose.  We  set  cut  a  little  after  three 
on  our  elephants,  with  a  servant  behind  each  howdah,  carrying  a 
large  chatta,  which,  however,  was  almost  needless.  The  Raja,  in 
spite  of  his  fever,  made  his  uppearance  too,  saying  that  he  could 
not  bear  to  be  left  behind.  A  number  of  people,  on  foot  and  horse- 
back, attended  from  our  own  camp  and  the  neighboring  villages, 
and  the  same  sort  of  interest  and  delight  was  evidently  excited 
which  might  be  produced  in  England  by  a  great  coursing  party. 
The  Raja  was  on  a  little  female  elephant,  hardly  bigger  than  the 
Durham  ox,  and  almost  as  shaggy  as  a  poodle.  She  was  a  native 
of  the  neighboring  wood,  where  they  are  generally,  though  not 
always,  of  a  smaller  size,  than  those  of  Bengal  and  Chittagong. 
He  sat  in  a  low  howdah,*  with  two  or  three  guns  ranged  beside  him 
ready  for  action.  -Mr.  Boulderson  had  also  a  formidable  apparatus 
of  muskets  and  fowling-pieces,  projecting  over  his  mohout's  head. 
We  rede  about  two  miles  across  a  plain  covered  with  long  jungle 
grass,  which  very  much  put  me  in  mind  of  the  country  near  the 
Cuban.  Q,uails  and  wild-fowl  arose  in  great  numbers,  and  beautifu, 
antelopes  were  seen  scudding  away  in  all  directions." 

The  Bishop  then  describes  the  beating  of  the  jungle,  the  rushing 
out  of  two  curious  animals  of  the  elk  kind,  called  the  "  mohr,"  and 
the  growing  anxiety  of  all  the  people  engaged  in  the  hunt.  He 
then  proceeds  thus  : — 

'«  At  last  the  elephants  all  drew  up  their  trunks  into  the  air, 
began  to  roar,  and  stamp  violently  with  their  fore-feet.  The  Raja's 
little  elephant  turned  short  round,  and  in  spite  of  all  her  mohout 
^her  driver)  could  say  or  do,  took  up  her  post,  to  the  Raja's  great 
annoyance,  close  in  the  rear  of  Mr.  Boulderson.  The  other  three 
(for  one  of  my  baggage  elephants  had  come  out  too,  the  mohcut, 
though  unarmed,  not  caring  to  miss  the  show)  went  on  slowly,  but 
boldly,  with  their  trunks  raised,  their  ears  expanded,  and  their 
sagacious  little  eyes  bent  inUntly  forward.  '  We  are  close  upcn 
him,'  said  Mr.  Boulderson;  'fire  where  you  see  the  long  grass 

*  The  Uowdah  is  a  seat  somewh.it  resembling  the  body  of  a  gig,  and  is  fastened 
by  girths  to  the  back  of  the  elephant. 


A   BISHOP   HUNTING   THE   TIGER.  137 


shake,  if  he  rises  before  you.'  Just  at  that  moment  my  elephan, 
stamped  again  violently.  '  There,  there,'  cried  the  mohout,  'I  saw 
his  head.'  A  short  roar,  or  rather  loud  growl  followed,  and  I  saw 
immediately  before  my  elephant's  head  the  motion  of  some  large 
animal  stealing  through  the  grass.  I  fired  as  directed,  and  a 
moment  after,  seeing  the  motion  still  more  plainly,  fired  the  second 
barrel.  Another  short  growl  followed  ;  the  motion  was  immediately 
Quickened,  and  was  soon  lost  in  the  more  distant  jungle.  Mr. 
Boulderson  said,  '  I  should  not  wonder  if  you  hit  him  that  last  time ; 
at  any  rate  we  shall  drive  him  out  of  the  cover,  and  then  I  will 
take  care  of  him.'  In  fact,  at  that  moment  the  crowd  of  horse  and 
foot  spectators  at  the  jungle  side,  began  to  run  off  in  all  directions. 
We  went  on  to  the  place,  but  found  it  was  a  false  alarm ;  and,  in 
fact,  we  had  seen  all  we  were  to  see  of  him,  and  went  twice  more 
through  the  jungle  in  vain.  ... 

"I  asked  Mr.  Boulderson  on  our  return,  whether  tiger-hunting 
was  generally  of  this  kind,  which  1  could  not  help  comparing  to 
that  chase  of  bubbles  which  enables  us  in  England  to  pursue  an 
otter.  In  a  jungle,  he  answered,  it  must  always  be  pretty  much 
the  same,  inasmuch  as,  except  under  very  peculiar  circumstances, 
or  when  a  tiger  felt  himself  severely  wounded,  and  was  roused  tc 
revenge  by  despair,  his  aim  was  to  remain  concealed,  and  to  make 
off"  as  quietly  as  possible.  It  was  after  he  had  broken  cover,  or 
when  he  found  himself  in  a  situation  so  as  to  be  fairly  at  bay,  that 
the  serious  part  of  the  sport  began,  in  which  case  he  attacked  his 
enemies  boldly,  and  always  died  fighting.  He  added,  that  the  lion, 
though  not  so  large  or  swift  an  animal  as  the  tiger,  was  general Iv 
stronger  and  more  courageous.  Those  which  have  been  killed  in 
India,  instead  of  running  away  when  pursued  through  a  jungle, 
seldom  seem  to  think  its  cover  necessary  at  all.  When  they  see 
their  enemies  approaching,  they  spring  out  to  meet  them,  open- 
mouthed,  in  the  plain,  like  the  boldest  of  all  animals,  a  mastiff  dog. 
They  are  thus  generally  shot  with  very  little  trouble  ;  but  if  they 
are  missed,  or  only  slightly  wounded,  they  are  truly  formidable 
enemies.  Though  not  swift,  they  leap  with  vast  strength  and  vio- 
lence ;  and  their  large  heads,  immense  paws,  and  the  event  weight 


138  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 

of  their  body  forwards,  often  enables  them  to  spring  on  the  head  of 
the  largest  elephants,  and  fairly  pull  them  down  to  the  ground, 
riders  and  all.  When  a  tiger  springs  on  an  elephant,  the  latter  is 
generally  able  to  shake  him  off  under  his  feet,  and  then  woe  be  to 
him.  The  elephant  either  kneels  on  him  and  crushes  him  at  once, 
or  gives  him  a  kick  which  breaks  half  his  ribs,  and  sends  him  flying 
perhaps  twenty  paces.  The  elephants,  however,  are  often  dread- 
fully torn  ;  and  a  large  old  tiger  sometimes  clings  too  fast  to  be  thus 
dealt  with.  In  this  case  it  often  happens  that  the  elephant  himself 
falls,  from  pain,  or  from  the  hope  of  rolling  on  his  enemy  ;  and  the 
people  on  his  back  are  in  very  considerable  danger  both  from  friends 
and  foes,  for  Mr.  Boulderson  said  the  scratch  of  a  tiger  was  some- 
times venomous,  as  that  of  a  cat  is  said  to  be.  But  this  did  not 
often  happen ;  and,  in  general,  persons  wounded  by  his  teeth  or 
claws,  if  not  killed  outright,  recovered  easily  enough." 

We  add  to  the  Bishop's  story  one  more  by  a  gentleman  in  the 
civil  service  of  the  British  East  India  Company. 

"  I  was  at  Jaffna,  at  the  northern  extremity  of  the  Island  of 
Ceylon,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1819:  when,  one  morning 
my  servant  called  me  an  hour  or  two  before  my  usual  time,  with, 
'  Master,  master !  people  sent  for  master's  dogs — tiger  in  the  town !' 
Now,  my  dogs  chanced  to  be  some  very  degenerate  specimens  of  a 
fine  species,  called  the  Poligar  dog,  which  I  should  designate  as  a 
sort  of  wiry-haired  greyhound,  without  scent.  I  kept  them  to 
hunt  jackals;  but  tigers  are  very  different  things:  by  the  way, 
there  are  no  real  tigers  in  Ceylon  ;  but  leopards  and  panthers  are 
always  called  so,  and  by  ourselves  as  well  as  by  the  natives.  This 
turned  out  to  be  a  panther.  My  gun  chanced  not  to  be  put  together; 
and  while  my  servant  was  doing  it,  the  collector,  and  two  medical 
men,  who  had  recently  arrived,  in  consequence  of  the  cholera 
morbus  having  just  then  reached  Ceylon  from  the  continent,  came 
to  my  door,  the  former  armed  with  a  fowling-piece,  and  the  two 
latter  with  remarkably  blunt  hog-spears.  They  insisted  upon 
setting  off  without  waiting  for  my  gun,  a  proceeding  not  much  to 
my  taste.  The  tiger  (I  must  continue  to  call  him  so)  had  taken 
refuge  in  a  hut,  the  roof  of  which,  as  those  of  Ceylcn  huts  in 


HUNTING    THE    TIGER.  139 


general,  spread  to  the  ground  like  an  umbrella;  the  only  aperture 
into  it  was  a  small  door,  about  four  feet  high.  The  collector  wanted 
to  get  the  tiger  out  at  once.  I  begged  to  wait  for  my  gun  ;  but 
no— the  fowling-piece  (loaded  with  ball,  of  course)  and  the  two 
hog-spears  were  quite  enough.  I  got  a  hedge-stake,  and  awaited 
my  fate,  from  very  shame.  At  this  moment,  to  my  great  delight, 
there  arrived  from  the  fort  an  English  officer,  two  artillery-men, 
and  a  Malay  Captain  ;  and  a  pretty  figure  we  should  have  cut 
without  them,  as  the  event  will  show.  I  was  now  quite  ready  to 
attack,  and  my  gun  came  a  minute  afterwards.  The  whole  scene 
which  follows  took  place  within  an  enclosure,  about  twenty  fe*t 
square,  formed,  on  three  sides,  by  a  strong  fence  of  palmyra  leaves, 
and  on  the  fourth  by  the  hut.  At  the  door  of  this  the  two  artillery- 
men planted  themselves;  and  the  Malay  captain  got  on  the  top,  to 
frighten  the  tiger  out,  by  worrying  it — an  easy  operation,  as  the 
huts  there  are  covered  with  cocoa-nut  leaves.  One  of  the  artillery- 
men wanted  to  go  in  to  the  tiger,  but  we  would  not  suffer  it.  At 
last  the  beast  sprang;  this  man  received  him  on  his  bayonet,  which 
•  he  'hrust  apparently  down  his  throat,  firing  his  piece  at  the  same 
moment.  The  bayonet  broke  off-  short,  leaving  less  than  three 
inches  on  the  musket ;  the  rest  remained  in  the  animal,  but  was 
invisible  to  us  :  the  shot  probably  went  through  his  cheek,  for  it 
certainly  did  not  seriously  injure  him,  as  he  instantly  rose  upon 
his  legs,  with  a  loud  roar,  and  placed  his  paws  upon  the  soldier's 
breast.  At  this  moment,  the  animal  appeared  to  me  to  about  reach 
the  centre  of  the  man's  face ;  but  I  had  scarcely  time  to  observe 
this,  when  the  tiger,  stooping  his  head,  seized  the  soldier's  arm  in 
his  mouth,  turned  him  half  round  staggering,  threw  him  over  on 
his  back,  and  fell  upon  mm.  Our  dread  now  was,  that  if  we  fired 
upon  the  tiger,  we  might  kill  the  man :  for  a  moment  there  was  a 
pause,  when  his  comrade  attacked  the  beast  exactly  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  gallant  fellow  himself  had  done.  He  struck  his 
bayonet  into  his  head  ;  the  tiger  rose  at  him — he  fired ;  and  this 
time  the  ball  took  effect,  and  in  the  head.  The  animal  staggered 
backwards,  and  we  all  poured  in  our  fire.  He  still  kicked  and 
writhed  ;  when  the  gentlemen  with  the  hog-spears  advanced,  and 


HO 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


fixed  him,  while  some  natives  finished  him,  by  beating  him  en  the 
head  with  hedge-stakes.  The  brave  artillery-man  was,  after  all, 
but  slightly  hurt :  he  claimed  the  skin,  which  was  very  cheerfully 
given  to  him.  There  was,  however,  a  cry  among  the  natives  that 
the  head  should  be  cut  off:  it  was ;  and  in  so  doing,  the  knife 
tame  Directly  across  the  bayonet.  The  animal  measured  scarcely 
less  than  four  feet  from  the  root  of  the  tail  to  the  muzzle.  There 
was  no  tradition  of  a  tiger  having  been  in  Jaffna  before  ;  indeed, 
this  one  must  have  either  come  a  distance  of  almost  twenty  miles, 
or  have  swam  across  an  arm  of  the  sea  nearly  two  in  breadth  ;  for 
Jaffna  stands  on  a  peninsula,  on  which  there  is  no  jungle  of  any 


A    FANTHKR. 


ADVENTURES    WITH    HY/ENAS. 


I'll 


HYAENA. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

ADVENTURES   WITH   HY2ENAS. 

'n\F  the  hyasna  there  are  twc 
sJJ/  species,  the  common  or 
striped,  and  the  South  African 
or  Spotted  Hyasna.  The  for- 
mer is  found  in  Barbary,  Egypt, 
Abyssinia,  Nubia,  Syria,  and 
Persia. 

The  spotted  hysena  is  a  native 
of  Southern  Africa;  and  the  species  is  found,  in  large  numbers, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ;  from  this  circum- 
stance, Desmaret  named  it.  The  general  shape  of  this  hyaena  is 
very  similar  to  that  of  the  striped,  though  it  is  ordinarily  smaller. 
The  mane  is  remarkable,  but  not  quite  so  full  as  in  the  striped 
species.  The  general  color  of  the  hide  is  a  dirty  yellow,  ap- 
proaching to  a  blackish  brown  on  the  belly  and  limbs,  with  spots 
also  of  a  blackish  brown,  more  or  less  deep,  on  all  parts  of  thf1 


142  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


body,  excepting  the  under  part  of  the  belly  and  of  the  breast,  the 
inner  surface  of  the  limbs,  and  the  head  ;  the  extremity  of  the 
muzzle  is  black;  the  tail  is  brown,  without  spots. 

The  peculiar  powers  of  the  hyaena,  arising  out  of  the  extraordi- 
nary strength  of  his  jaws  and  teeth,  admirably  fit  him  for  the  pur- 
poses which  he  serves  in  the  economy  of  nature.  An  inhabitant 
of  warm  countries,  he  principally  derives  his  subsistence,  in  com- 
mon with  the  jackal  and  the  vulture,  from  those  animal  remains, 
which,  if  uncons^umed,  would  produce  the  most  serious  incon- 
venience. All  the  narratives  of  residents  in,  or  travellers  through, 
Southern  Africa,  agree  in  their  accounts  of  these  facts.  Mr. 
Pringle,  in  the  notes  to  his  "  Ephemerides,"  says,  "There  are 
several  species  of  the  vulture  in  South  Africa,  but  the  most  com- 
mon is  the  large  light-colored  vultur  percnoptertis,  one  of  the 
sacred  birds  of  the  ancient  Egyptians.  These  fowls  divide  with 
the  hyaenas  the  office  of  carrion-scavengers  ;  and  the  promptitude 
with  which  they  discover  and  devour  every  dead  carcase  is  truly 
surprising.  They  also  instinctively  follow  any  band  of  hunters, 
or  party  of  men  travelling,  especially  in  solitary  places,  wheeling 
in  circles  high  in  the  air,  ready  to  pounce  down  upon  any  game 
that  may  be  shot  and  not  instantly  secured,  or  the  carcase  of  any 
ox  or  other  animal  that  may  perish  on  the  road.  I  have  seen  a 
large  ox  so  dexterously  handled  by  a  flock  of  these  voracious 
fowls,  that  in  the  course  of  three  or  four  hours  not  a  morsel,  ex- 
cept the  bones  and  the  skin,  (which  they  had  contrived  to  disin- 
carnate  almost  entire,)  remained  for  the  hysnas.  In  a  field  of 
battle  in  South  Africa,  no  one  ever  buries  the  dead  :  the  birds  and 
beasts  of  prey  relieve  the  living  of  that  trouble.  Even  the  bones, 
except  a  few  of  the  less  manage  ible  parts,  find  a  sepulchre  in  the 
voracious  maw  of  the  hyaena."  Mr.  Burchell,  speaking  of  the 
office  of  vultures  in  hot  regions,  says,  "Vultures  have  been 
ordained  evidently  to  perform  very  necessary  and  useful  duties 
on  the  globe ;  as,  indeed,  has  every  other  animated  being,  how- 
ever purblind  we  may  be  in  our  views  of  their  utility ;  and  we 
might  almost  venture  to  declare  that  those  duties  are  the  final 
cause  of  their  existence.  To  those  who  have  had  an  opportunity 


ADVENTURES    WITH    HYENAS.  143 


of  exam.uing  these  birds,  it  need  not  be  remarked  how  perfectly 
the  formation  of  a  vulture  is  adapted  to  that  share  in  the  daily 
business  of  the  globe  which  has  been  allotted  to  it — that  of  clear- 
ing away  putrid  orputrescent  animal  matter,  which  might  otherwise 
taint  the  air  and  produce  infectious  disease."  The  vulture  is 
enabled  to  perform  these  duties,  in  countries  of  great  extent  and 
thinly-scattered  population,  principally  from  his  extraordinary 
powers  of  sight.  The  wonderful  extent  of  vision  of  this  bird's  eye 
is  shown  in  the  following  instance : — "In  the  year  1778,  Mr.  Baber, 
and  several  other  gentlemen,  were  on  a  hunting  party,  in  the  island 
of  Cossimbuzar,  in  Bengal,  about  fifteen  miles  north  of  the  city  of 
Murshedabad.  They  killed  a  wild  hog  of  uncommon  size,  and  left 
it  on  the  ground  near  the  tent.  An  hour  after,  walking  near  the 
spot  where  it  lay,  the  sky  perfectly  clear,  a  dark  spot  in  the  air 
ai  a  great  distance  attracted  their  attention.  It  appeared  to 
increase  in  size,  and  move  directly  towards  them ;  as  it  advanced, 
it  proved  to  be  a  vulture  flying  in  a  direct  line  to  the  dead  hog 
In  an  hour,  seventy  others  came  in  all  directions,  which  induced 
Mr.  Baber  to  remark,  this  cannot  be  smell."*  The  faculty  of 
smell  of  the  hyaena  conducts  him  as  certainly  to  his  food  as  the 
sight  of  the  vulture.  Major  Denham  tells  us  in  his  Journal, 
"  the  hyaenas  came  so  close  to  the  tent  last  night,  that  a  camel, 
which  lay  about  a  hundred  yards  from  the  enclosure,  was  found 
nearly  half-eaten.  A  lion  first  made  a  meal  on  the  poor  animal, 
when  the  hyaenas  came  down  upon  what  he  had  left."  Mr.  Bur- 
chell  says,  "  A  new  species  of  antelope,  which  had  been  shot  late 
on  the  preceding  evening,  was  fetched  home  ;  but  during  the  night, 
the  hyaenas,  or  wolves  as  they  are  usually  called  by  the  Boors  and 
Hottentots,  had  devoured  all  the  flesh,  leaving  us  only  the  head 
and  the  hide."  These,  and  many  more  instances  which  we 
might  select,  show  us  that  in  these  regions,  in  the  very  hour 
when  any  quadruped  falls,  the  sharp-scented  hyasnas  immediately 
m<ike  their  appearance,  and  rush  into  the  encampments  of  man 
for  their  share  of  the  prey.  At  the  Cape,  they  formerly  came 
down  into  the  town,  unmolested  by  the  inhabitant?,  tr  cleai  the 

•  Home.  Comp   Auat   vol  ii:.  p.  216 


H4  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


STRIPED    HYAENA. 

shambles  of  their  refuse.  The  common  notion  that  they  teai 
newly-buried  bodies  out  of  graves  is  not  inconsistent  with  theji 
extraordinary  voracity,  and  the  peculiar  strength  of  their  claws. 
It  is  well  ascertained  that  hyaenas  devour  the  dead  carcases  ot 
their  own  species. 

But  the  depredations  of  the  hyaena  are  not  confined  to  the 
remains  of  the  dead.  There  are  periods  when  they  become  bcid 
from  extreme  hunger,  and  will  carry  off  very  large  animals,  nnd 
even  human  beings,  with  the  most  daring  ferocity.  Major  Den- 
ham  says,  "At  this  season  of  the  year,"  (August,)  "  there  are 
other  reasons,  besides  the  falls  of  rain,  which  induce  people  to 
remain  in  their  habitations.  When  the  great  lake  overflows  the 
immense  district  which,  in  the  dry  season,  affords  cover  and  food, 
by  its  coarse  grass  and  jungle,  to  the  numerous  savage  animals 
with  which  Bornou  abounds,  they  are  driven  from  these  wilds, 
and  take  refuge  in  the  standing  corn,  and  sometimes  in  the  imme- 
diate neighborhood  of  the  towns.  Elephants  had  already  been 
seen  at  Dowergoo,  scarcely  six  miles  from  Kouka ;  and  a  female 
slave,  while  she  was  returning  home  from  weeding  the  corn,  to 
Kowa,  not  more  than  ten  miles  distant,  had  been  carried  off  by  a 
lioness.  The  hyaenas,  which  are  everywhere  in  legions,  grew 
now  so  extremely  ravenous,  that  a  good,  large  village,  where  1 
sometimes  procured  a  draught  of  sour  milk  on  my  duck-shouting 


ADVENTURES    WITH    HYENAS.  115 


excursions,  had  been  attacked  the  night  before  my  last  visit,  the 
town  absolutely  carried  by  storm,  notwithstanding  defences  nearly 
six  feet  high  of  branches  of  the  prickly  tulloh,  and  two  donkies, 
whose  flesh  these  animals  are  particularly  fond  of,  carried  off,  in 
««pite  of  the  efforts  of  the  people.  We  constantly  heard  them  close 
*o  the  walls  of  our  own  town  at  nights ;  and  on  a  gate  being  left 
partly  open,  they  would  enter  and  carry  off  any  unfortunate  animal 
that  they  could  find  in  the  streets." 

With  this  strong  desire  for  food,  approaching  to  the  boldness  of 
the  most  desperate  craving,  the  hyaena,  although  generally  fearful 
of  the  presence  of  man,  is  an  object  of  natural  terror  to  the  African 
traveller.  Bruce  relates,  that  one  night  in  Maibsha,  in  Abyssinia, 
he  heard  a  noise  in  his  tent ;  and  getting  up  from  his  bed,  saw  two 
large  blue  eyes  glaring  upon  him.  It  was  a  powerful  hyasna,  who 
had  been  attracted  to  the  tent  by  a  quantity  of  candles,  which  he 
had  seized  upon,  and  was  bearing  off  in  his  mouth.  He  had  a 
desperate  encounter  with  the  beast,  but  succeeded  in  killing  him. 
In  the  neighborhood  of  the  ruins  of  those  cities  on  the  northern 
coast  of  Africa,  which,  in  ancient  times,  were  the  abodes  of  wealth 
and  splendor,  and  witnessed  the  power  of  the  Ptolemies  and 
Caesars,  the  hysena  is  a  constant  resident,  and  increases  the  sense 
of  desolation  by  the  gloominess  of  his  habits.  At  Ptolemeta,  where 
there  are  many  remains  of  former  architectural  magnificence,  the 
fountains  which  were  constructed  for  the  accommodation  of  an  enor- 
mous population  are  now  useless,  except  to  the  wandering  Arab, 
and  to  the  jackal  and  hyaena,  who  stray  amongst  these  ruins  after 
sunset,  to  search  for  water  at  the  deserted  reservoirs.*  Seldom  dees 
the  hyaena  molest  the  traveller  in  these  solitudes  ;  but  his  howl,  or 
the  encounter  of  his  fierce  and  sullen  eye,  is  always  alarming. 
Captain  Beechey  says,  "  although  we  had  very  frequently  been  dis- 
turbed by  hyaenas,  we  never  found  that  familiarity  with  their 
howl,  or  their  presence,  could  render  their  near  approach  an  un- 
important occurrence  ;  and  the  hand  would  instinctively  find  its 
way  to  the  pistol,  before  we  were  aware  of  the  action,  whenever 
eitner  of  .hese  interruptions  obtruded  themselves  closely  upon  us, 

•  Beechey. 

10 


146  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


either  by  night  or  by  day."  Such  encounters  are  generally  with- 
out any  fatal  results,  if  the  man  does  not  commence  the  attack  ; 
the  hyaena  sets  up  a  howl,  and  doggedly  walks  away,  with  his 
peculiar  limping  motion,  which  gives  him  an  appearance  of  lame- 
ness ;  but  when  he  is  attacked,  his  resistance  is  as  fierce  as  it  is 
obstinate. 

The  hyaena  has  always  been  an  object  of  aversion  to  mankind  ; 
and  this  feeling  has  been  kept  up,  not  only  by  the  showman's 
stories  of  "  that  cruel  and  untameable  beast,  that  never  was  yet 
tamed  by  man,"  but  by  writers  of  natural  history,  from  the  days 
of  Pliny  to  those  of  Goldsmith.  The  latter  pleasant  compiler  tells 
us,  "  no  words  can  give  an  adequate  idea  of  this  animal's  figure, 
deformity,  and  fierceness.  More  savage  and  untameable  than  any 
other  quadruped,  it  seems  to  be  forever  in  a  state  of  rage  or 
rapacity."  With  regard  to  its  deformity,  we  are  rather  of  opinion 
with  Sir  Thomas  Brown,  that  "  there  is  a  general  beauty  in  the 
works  of  God ;  and  therefore  no  deformity  in  any  kind  of  species 
of  creature  whatsoever ;"  and,  with  him,  we  "  cannot  tell  by  what 
logic  we  call  a  toad,  a  bear,  or  an  elephant  ugly,  they  being 
created  in  those  outward  shapes  and  figures  which  best  express 
those  actions  of  their  inward  forms."*  That  the  hyaena  can  be 
tamed,  and  most  completely  and  extensively  so,  there  can  be  ho 
doubt.  "The  cadaverous  crocuta,"  (the  spotted  hyaena,)  says 
Barrow,  in  his  Travels  in  Southern  Africa,  "  has  lately  been 
domesticated  in  the  Snewberg,  where  it  is  now  considered  one  of 
the  best  hunters  after  game,  and  as  faithful  and  diligent  as  any  of 
the  common  sorts  of  domestic  dogs."  Bishop  Heber  saw  a  gentle- 
man in  India,  Mr.  Traill,  who  had  a  hyaena  for  several  years, 
•vhich  followed  him  about  like  a  dog,  and  fawned  on  those  with 
whom  he  was  acquainted ;  and  the  Bishop  mentions  this  as  an 
instance  of  "  how  much  the  poor  hyaena  is  wronged,  when  he  is 
described  as  untameable."  M.  F.  Cuvier  notices  an  animal  of 
this  species  that  had  been  taken  young  at  the  Cape,  and  was 
tamed  without  difficulty.  His  keepers  had  a  complete  command 

•ver  his  afiecticns.     He  one  day  escaped  from  his  cage,  and 

• 

•  Beligio  Medici,  4  16. 


ADVENTURES   WITH   HYENAS. 


147 


quietly  walked  into  a  cottage,  where  he  was  retaken  without  offer, 
ing  any  resistance.  And  yet  the  rage  of  this  animal  was  occa- 
sionally very  great  when  strangers  approached  it.  The  fact  is, 
that  the  hyaena  is  exceedingly  impatient  of  confinement ;  and  feels 
a  constant  irritation  at  the  constraint  which,  in  the  den  of  a  mena- 
gerie, is  put  upon  his  natural  habits.  An  individual  at  Exeter 
Change,  some  years  ago,  was  so  tame,  as  to  be  allowed  to  walk  about 
the  exhibition-room.  He  was  afterwards  sold  to  a  person,  who 
permitted  him  to  go  out  with  him  into  the  fields,  led  by  a  string. 
After  these  indulgences,  he  became  the  property  of  a  travelling 
showman,  who  kept  him  constantly  in  a  cage.  From  that  time 
his  ferocity  became  quite  alarming ;  he  would  allow  no  strange* 
to  approach  him ;  and  he  gradually  pined  away  and  died.  Thii 
is  one,  out  of  the  many  examples,  of  the  miseries  which  we  inflict 
upon  animals,  through  an  ignorance  of  their  natural  habits. 


CHAPTER  XXVI.     ' 


HUNTING  THE   OURANQ   OUTANQ. 

HE  Orangs,  or  «  Wild  men  of  the  Woods,"  for  a 
long  time  enjoyed  a  reputation  almost  human,  a 
reputation  kept  up  by  the  prints  and  drawings 
which  formerly  placed  them  almost  uniformly  in 
an  erect  position,  and  by  the  tricks  which  those 
brought  to  Europe  were  taught.  But  neither  is  the  Asiatic  nor 
the  African  Orang  formed  for  erect  progression.  If  left  to  them- 
selves, they  move  on  the  ground  most  awkwardly,  doubling  their 
anterior  hands,  ruoving  in  their  advance  upon  the  knuckles,  and 
resting  upon  the  outward  edge  of  the  posterior  feet.  Among 
trees  they  are  as  active  and  rapid  in  their  motion  as  they  are 
clumsy  and  slow  on  the  ground. 

The  anterior  extremities  of  the  Orang  Utan*  are  nearly  as  long 
as  they  are  in  Hylobates ;  the  hands,  in  this  Asiatic,  reach  nearly 
to  the  heels.  There  is  a  marked  difference  between  the  skull  of 
this  species  and  the  crania  of  Hylobates  and  of  the  Chimpanzee. 
The  interparietal  crest  in  Pithecus  satyrus  is  as  highly  developed 

*  Pithccus  satjrrut. 


0EANQ   OUTANQ. 


HUNTING   THE   OURANG   OUTANG.  151 


as  it  is  in  the  carnivorous  tribe,  and  the  zygomatic  arch  is  widely 
expanded  ;  nor  are  these  the  only  points  of  resemblance.  In  the 
Hoolock  and  in  the  Chimpanzee  the  skull  is  comparatively  smooth 
and  human  on  its  outward  surface. 

Sun  atra  and  Borneo  are  the  principal  localities  where  the 
Jurang  Outang  has  been  hitherto  found ;  and  those  which  have  been 
brought  to  Europe  have  exhibited  a  considerable  degree  of  intelli- 
gence, though,  as  far  as  our  experience  and  information  go,  not 
so  high  a  degree  as  is  manifested  by  the  Chimpanzee.  An  Ourang 
Outang,  brought  to  England  by  Captain  Methuen,  made  no  attempt 
to  escape  when  suffered  to  be  at  large  before  he  was  shipped,  but 
became  violent  when  incarcerated  in  a  bamboo  cage.  He  at  first 
shook  the  rails  violently,  but,  finding  that  they  did  not  yield  to  his 
efforts,  he  tried  them  separately,  pitched  upon  the  weakest,  and 
perseveringly  worked  at  it  till  he  broke  it  and  regained  his  liberty. 
Then  they  tried  to  confine  him  by  a  chain  fastened  to  a  strong 
staple ;  he  soon  unfastened  it,  and  ran  off".  Finding  the  incum- 
brance  of  the  chain,  as  he  dragged  it  after  him,  he  collected  it 
into  one  or  two  coils  and  threw  it  over  his  shoulder ;  this  he  did, 
as  occasion  required,  till,  finding  that  it  slipped  from  his  shoulder, 
he  held  it  in  his  mouth.  At  last  he  was  suffered  to  roam  freely 
about  the  ship,  and  became  a  general  favorite,  from  the  grave 
playfulness  of  his  manners,  and  his  burlesque  of  human  actions 
and  passions.  Among  other  feats  he  stole  the  captain's  brandy 
bottle,  and  did  his  best  to  throw  a  cage  full  of  small  monkeys 
overboard.  This  propensity  to  monkey-murder  has  been  observed 
in  most  of  the  individuals  who  have  had  an  opportunity  of  show- 
ing it ;  as  if  the  Uurangs  considered  the  monkeys  libellous  cari- 
catures upon  their  more  dignified  development,  and  were  eager 
to  get  rid  of  their  irritating  presence.  When  refused  what  he 
wanted  he  would  roll  himself  on  deck,  and  behave  as  naughtily  as 
any  froward  child  could  ;  nay,  if  the  refusal  were  persisted  in,  he 
would  suddenly  rise,  and,  uttering  piercing  screams,  rush  over 
the  ship's  side,  as  though,  in  his  despair,  he  were  going  to  throw 
himself  into  the  sea.  At  first  the  captain  and  his  crew  actually 
thought  that  they  had  carr  ed  the  j«ke  too  far,  and  driven  theii 


152  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


cheiroped  shipmate  to  commit  suicide  ;  but,  on  searching,  they 
found  him  concealed  under  the  chains. 

The  individuals,  however,  brought  to  this  country,  give  but  a 
faint  idea  of  the  size  and  appearance  of  a  full-grown  OurangOutang 
Mr.  Owen,  in  his  highly  interesting  memoir  on  the  osteology  of 
this  species  and  the  Chimpanzee,  gives  the  height  of  the  Ourang 
Outang  as  under  five  feet ;  but,  according  to  Dr.  Abel,  its  stature 
when  adult  *3,  sometimes  at  least,  much  beyond  that  limit. 

In  the  a  Asiatic  Researches,"  the  Doctor  lays  before  us  an 
account  of  a  scene  in  which  one  of  these  unfortunate  Ourangs  was 
a  principal  actor,  or  rather  sufferer;  an  account  which  no  one  can 
read  without  pain  : — 

A  party  from  a  brig  had,  it  appears,  landed  at  Ramboon,  on 
the  northwest  coast  of  Sumatra,  to  procure  water.  The  place 
was  much  cultivated,  and  there  were  but  few  trees ;  on  one  of 
these  trees  they  discovered  a  gigantic  animal.  They  approached, 
•and  he  came  to  the  ground.  They  pursued,  and  he  made  for 
another  tree  at  some  distance,  presenting  to  his  pursuers  a  tail 
man-like  figure  covered  with  a  fell  of  shining  brown  hair,  moving 
almost  erect  with  a  wtiddling  gait,  sometimes  assisting  his  progress 
with  his  hands,  and  sometimes  by  the  impulse  of  a  bough  which 
he  held.  On  gaining  a  small  clump,  he  sprang  at  a  bound  to  a 
lofty  branch,  and  passed  from  one  limb  of  the  tree  to  another  with 
the  greatest  ease  and  alacrity.  They  felt  that,  if  the  country  had 
been  well  wooded,  he  must,  in  all  probability,  have  escaped ;  foi 
he  travelled  from  tree  to  tree  with  the  swiftness  of  a  horse  on  the 
ground.  Confined  as  he  was  to  only  a  few  trees,  his  movements 
were  so  quick  that  it  was  very  difficult  to  take  aim,  and  it  was  not 
till  his  hunters  had  cut  down  one  tree  after  another,  that  they  were 
able  effectually  to  begin  their  butcher-work.  Five  balls  pierced  the 
wretched  creature  before  his  exertions  relaxed ;  then,  reclining 
apparently  exhausted,  on  one  of  the  branches,  he  copiously 
vomitted  blood.  Still  he  held  on  ;  and  their  ammunition  being 
all  expended,  they  proceeded  to  cut  down  the  tree,  convinced  that 
he  was  so  far  gone  that  they  could  then  secure  him  without 
trouble.  The  tree  nodded  to  its  fall;  but,  as  it  was  falling,  they 


E'JNTINO   THE   OURANG   OUTANG.  153 


to  their  surprise,  saw  him  gain  another,  and  they  were  obliged  to 
cut  down  all  the  trees  before  they  could  bring  him  to  the  earth. 
Even  then,  mangled  as  he  was,  he  made  a  most  determined  de- 
fence against  the  numbers  who  attacked  him  with  spears,  large 
stones,  and  other  missiles.  He  broke  the  shaft  of  one  spear — it 
was  made  of  a  supple  wood,  and  would  have  withstood  the  strength 
f  the  stoutest  man — "  as  if  it  had  been  a  carrot,"  to  use  the 
words  of  the  narrator.  Those  who  aided  in  this  slaughter 
acknowledged  that  they  were  distressed  by  the  human-like  ex- 
pression of  his  countenance,  the  piteous  manner  in  which  he 
applied  his  hands  to  his  wounds,  and  the  whole  bearing  of  the 
dying  combatant.  They  confessed  that  the  sight  was  such  as 
almost  to  make  them  question  the  nature  of  the  act  they  were 
committing.  He  lay  dead  before  them,  upwards  of  six  feet  in 
length  at  the  lowest  computation,  according  to  the  narrative. 

We  know  not  what  view  their  worships  of  the  learned  societies 
may  take  of  this  transaction,  for  there  is  no  telling  how  far  a  zeal 
for  science  may  carry  its  votaries,*  but  to  the  unlearned  it  must 
look  rather  murderous. 

The  captain,  who  furnished  Dr.  Abel  with  the  details,  stated 
that  the  creature  was  a  full  head  taller  than  any  man  on  board, 
measuring  seven  feet  in  what  might  be  called  his  ordinary  stand- 
ing posture,  and  eight  feet  when  suspended  for  the  purpose  of 
being  skinned.  Dr.  Abel  describes  the  skin,  dried  and  shrivelled 
as  it  was,  as  measuring  in  a  straight  line,  from  the  top  of  the 
shoulder  to  the  part  where  the  ancle  had  been  removed,  five  feet 
ten  inches ;  the  perpendicular  length  of  the  neck,  as  in  the  pre- 
paration, three  inches  and  a  half;  the  length  of  the  head,  from 
the  top  of  the  forehead  to  the  end  of  the  chin,  nine  inches  ;  and 
the  length  of  the  skin  still  attached  to  the  foot,  from  the  line  of  ita 
separation  from  the  leg,  eight  inches. 

*  We  remember  to  have  heard  of  a  clause  said  to  have  been  in  the  direction! 
given,  many  years  ago,  to  a  commander  of  an  expedition  of  discovery,  somewhat 
.to  the  following  effect : — "  You  are  to  avoid  collision  with  the  natives ;  but  if, 
unfortunately,  such  an  event  should  happen,  and  one  of  them  should  be  killed, 
you  will  preserve  the  body  in  spirit  and  bring  it  home  for  examination." 


154 


HUNTTNO 


CHAPTER  XXVIT. 

HUNTING   MONKEYS. 

fj\  modern  zooiogisc*  has,  not 
diii»  inaptly,  applied'  the  term 
Cheiropeds  or  hand-footed  animals 
to  monkeys  ;  and,  indeed,  strictly 
speaking,  they  can  hardly  be 
called  quadrumanous  or  four- 
handed.  Their  extremities,  ad- 
mirably fitted  for  grasping  and 
climbing,  as  far  as  their  arboreal 
habits  require  those  actions,  fall  short — how  very  far  short ! — of 
that  wonderful  instrument  which  surrounds  a  being  born  one  of 
the  most  helpless  of  all  creatures,  with  necessaries,  comforts,  and 
luxuries,  and  enables  him  to  embody  his  imaginings  in  works 
almost  divine.  We-  look  in  vain  among  the  most  perfectly- 
formed  of  the  anthropoid  apes  for  the  weil-deve'loped  opposable 
thumb  of  the  human  hand — that  great  boon,  the  ready  agent  of 
man's  will,  by  means  of  which  he  holds  "  dominion  over  the  fish 


Mr.  Ozilby. 


HUNTING   MONKEYS.  155 


of  the  sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  every  living 
thing  that  moveth  upon  the  earth." 

The  hands  of  the  monkeys  are  at  best  but  ((  half  made  up," 
and  they  are  generally  more  or  less  well  fashioned  in  proportion 
to  the  greater  or  less  prehensile  development  of  the  tail.  The 
habits  of  the  race  are  arboreal,  and  their  favorite  haunts  are  the 
recesses  of  those  tropical  forests  where  they  can  either  sport  in  the 
sunbeams  on  the  topmost  boughs,  or  shelter  themselves  from  its 
scorching  rays  under  the  impervious  canopy  of  a  luxuriant  vege- 
tation. When  their  privacy  is  invaded  by  man,  a  restless  and 
constantly  recurring  curiosity  seems  to  be  their  prevailing  feeling 
at  first,  and  at  last  the  intruders  are  frequently  pelted  with  stones, 
sticks,  and  fruits  heavy  and  hard,  more  especially  if  they  make 
any  demonstration  of  hostility. 

Robert  Lade  thus  speaks  of  their  behavior  when  he  went  to 
hunt  some  of  them  near  the  Cape : 

«  I  can  neither  describe  all  the  arts  practised  by  these  animals, 
nor  the  nimbleness  and  impudence  with  which  they  returned  after 
being  pursued  by  us.  Sometimes  they  allowed  us  to  approach  so 
near  them,  that  I  was  almost  certain  of  seizing  them  ;  but  when  I 
made  the  attempt,  they  sprung,  at  a  single  leap,  ten  paces  from 
me,  and  mounted  trees  with  equal  agility,  from  which  they  looked 
with  great  indifference,  and  seemed  to  derive  pleasure  from  our 
astonishment.  Some  of  them  were  so  large,  that  if  our  interpreter 
had  not  assured  us  that  they  were  neither  ferocious  nor  dangerous, 
our  number  would  not  have  appeared  to  be  sufficient  to  protect  us 
from  their  attacks.  As  it  would  serve  no  purpose  to  kill  them, 
\ve  did  not  use  our  guns"  (we  respect  the  good  feeling  of  honest 
tobert  and  his  companions) ;  "  but  the  captain  happened  to  aim 
,»t  a  very  large  one  which  sat  on  the  top  of  a  tree,  after  having 
fatigued  us  a  long  time  in  pursuing  him.  This  kind  of  menace 
however,  of  which  the  animal  perhaps  recollected  his  having 
sometimes  seen  the  consequences,  terrified  him  to  such  a  degree, 
that  he  fell  down  motionless  at  our  feet,  and  we  had  no  difficulty 
in  seizing  him.  But  whenever  he  recovered  from  his  stupor  it 
required  all  our  dexterity  and  efforts  to  keep  him.  We  tied  hia 


156  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


paws  together;  but  he  bit  so  furiously  that  we  were  under  th« 
necessity  of  covering  his  head  with  our  handkerchiefs." 

Indeed,  those  who  have  only  seen  these  agile  creatures  in 
menageries,  or  in  a  reclaimed  state,  can  have  no  idea  of  the  wild 
activity  of  the  tribe  in  their  native  woods.  Swinging  and  leaping 
from  tree  to  tree,  ever  on  the  hunt  for  fruits  and  birds'  nests — they 
are  most  unconscionable  plunderers  of  eggs — they  lead  a  merry 
life,  which  is,  however,  often  cut  short  by  those  mighty  snakes 
that  frequently  lie  in  ambush  near  their  careless,  unsuspecting 
prey.  These  serpents  are  the  greatest  enemies  of  the  monkeys, 
with  the  exception  of  the  common  persecutor — man.  He,  indeed, 
is  sometimes  touched  by  compunctious  visitings,  when  it  is  too  late. 

"  Seeing  me,"  says  a  South  American  traveller,  speaking  of  a 
monkey,  "  nearly  on  the  bank  of  the  river  in  a  canoe,  the  creature 
made  a  halt  from  skipping  after  his  companions,  and,  being 
perched  on  a  branch  that  hung  over  the  water,  examined  me  with 
attention  and  the  strongest  marks  of  curiosity,  no  doubt  taking  me 
for  a  giant  of  his  own  species,  while  he  chattered  prodigiously, 
and  kept  dancing- and  shaking  the  bough  on  which  he  rested,  with 
incredible  strength  and  agility.  At  this  time  I  laid  my  piece  to 
my  shoulder,  and  brought  him  down  from  the  tree  into  the  stream ; 
but  may  I  never  again  be  a  witness  to  such  a  scene  !  The  mise- 
rable animal  was  not  dead,  but  mortally  wounded.  I  seized  him 
by  the  tail,  and  taking  him  in  both  my  hands  to  end  his  torments, 
swung  him  round  and  hit  his  head  against  the  side  of  the  canoe  ; 
but  the  poor  creature  still  continuing  alive,  and  looking  at  me  in 
the  most  affecting  manner  that  can  be  conceived,  I  knew  no  other 
means  of  ending  his  murder  than  to  hold  him  under  the  water 
till  he  was  drowned,  while  my  heart  sickened  on  his  account,  for 
his  dying  little  eyes  still  continued  to  follow  me  with  seeming 
reproach,  till  their  light  gradually  forsook  them,  and  the  wretched 
animal  expired.  I  felt  so  much  on  'this  occasion  that  I  could 
neither  taste  of  him  nor  his  companions  when  they  were  dressed, 
though  I  saw  that  they  afforded  to  some  others  a  delicious  repast.' 

The  repentant  writer  and  his  party  were  driven  to  the  commis- 
sion of  the  act  for  the  want  of  fresh  provisions ;  and  many  of  the 


HUNTING    MONKEYS. 


WHITE-EYELID    MONKEY. 

fam'ly  are  considered  most  excellent  eating — by  those  who  can  get 
over  the  appearance  of  the  animal  and  of  its  bones  when  cooked. 
There  are  not  many,  however,  who  can  sit  down  to  a  dish  of 
monkeys  without  feeling  that  it  is  rather  a  cannibalish  proceeding. 
The  Mangabey,  or  White-eyelid  Monkey,*  belongs  to  the 
genus  cercocebus.  Western  Africa  is  his  locality.  The  Man- 
gabey, with  its  upper  eyelids  of  a  dead  white,  was  so  named  by 
Buffbn,  from  the  erroneous  supposition  that  his  specimens  were 
brought  from  that  territory  in  Madagascar.  In  a  state  of  captivity 
it  is  a  most  unwearied  droll — frolicsome  and  good-natured  withal. 
Sir  William  Jardine  mentions  a  female  in  Mr.  Wombwell's  mena- 
gerie that  was  most  lively,  and  gives  a  figure  of  her,  no  easy  task, 
for  she  was  never  at  rest  for  one  moment ;  and  her  activity  was 
increased  when  she  perceived  that  she  was  noticed.  lt  She  per- 
formed," says  Sir  William,  "  many  of  the  attitudes  of  the  most 
experienced  harlequins.  *  *  *  She  was  remarkably  cleanly  and 
careful  r  ot  to  soil  her  person.  When  feeding,  she  seldom  put 
her  head  to  the  food  or  dish,  but  lifted  and  conveyed  it  to  her 
mouth."  Her  diet  consisted  of  bread  and  milk  principally,  and 
vegetables  occasionally :  like  Potemkin,  she  was  very  fond  of  a 

•  Cercocebus  fuliginosus 


160  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


carrot.  The  large  troops  in  which  the  Green  Monkeys  assemble 
have  been  remarked  by  many  travellers.  It  "was  one  of  these 
societies,  most  probably,  that  afforded  M.  Adanson  the  excellent 
sport,  on  the  enjoyment  of  which  he  dwells  with  so  much  satis- 
faction. The  poor  animals  were  surprised  in  the  midst  of  their 
tricks ;  and  M.  Adanson  declares  that  nothing  could  be  more 
entertaining  than  the  endeavors  of  the  little  wretches  to  escape 
from  the  slaughtering  gun  which  the  traveller  seems 'to  have 
worked  most  unrelentingly.  Though  he  killed  twenty-three  in 
less  than  one  hour,  within  a  space  of  twenty  toises,  and  wounded, 
we  dare  say,  many  more,  not  one  of  the  sufferers  screamed  during 
the  whole  time  ;  but  the  rest  gathered  together  in  companies,  knit 
their  brows,  gnashed  their  teeth,  and  yelled  as  if  they  intended  to 
attack  him.  We  wish  they  had  with  all  our  hearts,  and  to  some 
purpose,  too,  though  we  have  great  respect  for  philosophers  in 
general,  and  for  zoologists  in  particular. 

The  full-maned  Colobus,  or  full-bottomed  Monkey,  is  a  native 
of  the  forests  of  Sierra  Leone.  It  is  called  by  the  natives  the 
king  of  the  monkeys,  on  account  of  its  colors,  and  the  camaii 
which  represents  a  sort  of  diadem.  Its  fur  is  highly  esteemed. 
The  head  and  shoulders  are  covered  with  long  yellow  and  black 
hairs,  forming  a  sort  of  mane-like  hood  or  pelerine.  The  face  is 
brown;  the  body  is  covered  with  short  jet  black  hair;  the  tail  is 
snow  white  and  tufted.  Its  great  beauty  causes  it  to  be  hunted 
by  the  natives  with  great  activity.  Bows,  arrows,  and  lances,  are 
employed  in  hunting  it,  and  snares  and  traps  for  its  capture.  It 
is  rarely  seen,  however,  out  of  its  native  country. 

The  Guereza  is  a  monkey  of  the  Colobus  genus.  Its  general 
color  is  black,  but  its  sides  and  the  back  are  ornamented  with  long 
pendent  white  hairs,  forming  a  fringe-like  mantle,  its  face  encircled 
with  white,  tail  ending  in  a  white  tuff.  Native  country,  South 
and  West  Abyssinia,  where  k  is  hunted  by  the  natives,  who  con- 
sider it  a  mark  of  distinction  to  possess  a  buckler  covered  with  its 
skin,  the  part  used  being  that  covered  with  the  long  flowing  whit* 
hairs. 


COLOBU3. 


11 


HUNTING   THE   IBEX. 


103 


THE   IBEX. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

HUNTING   THE   IBEX. 

TTHIS  bold  and  powerful  animal, 
armed  with  huge  sweeping 
horns,  inhabits  the  Alpine  heights 
of  Europe,  and  Western  Asia.  It 
associates  in  small  troops,  con- 
sisting of  a  male  and  a  few 
females.  The  horns  of  the 
male  curve  boldly  over  the  back, 
their  anterior  surface  presenting 
a  series  of  regular  protuberances 
or  partial  rings;  their  length  is  often  three  feet.  In  the  female 
they  are  smaller,  The  hair  ( f  the  Ibex  in  summer  is  short  and 


164  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


close  ;  in  winter  iong  and  thick ;  its  color  is  yellowish  grey,  a 
black  streak  extending  along  the  spine  ;  the  croup  is  white,  as 
are  ako  the  under  parts  of  the  body,  a  dark  tint  abruptly  dividing 
the  white  from  the  general  color  above.  The  chin  is  bearded. 
The  Ibex  stands  two  feet  six  or  eight  inches  in  height,  and  is 
extremely  active  and  vigorous. 

The  chase  of  the  Ibex  is  as  arduous  as  that  of  the  chamois, 
the  animal  leading  its  pursuer,  unless  he  can  steal  upon  it 
unawares  with  his  rifle,  a  dangerous  track  over  steep  and  rug- 
ged mountain  pinnacles,  along  the  brink  of  precipices,  and 
over  fearful  chasms  ;  when  at  last  hard  pressed,  the  Ibex  will 
often  turn  upon  its  foe  with  impetuous  rapidity,  and  hurl  him 
headlong  down  the  steep  rocks  or  abrupt  precipices. 

The  Ibex  is  vigilant  and  wary  ;  and  it  is  only  during  the  night 
that  it  descends  to  pasture  in  the  woods,  but  at  sunrise  again 
repairs  to  the  bleak  mountain  summits.  Like  the  chamois,  it  is 
satisfied  with  a  frugal  fare,  and  a  scanty  supply  of  water.  It  is 
said  that  the  old  males  seek  more  elevated  spots  than  the  females 
and  younger  males,  which  are  more  easily  to  be  obtained.  The 
only  sound  which  the  animal  makes-  is  a  short  whistle,  and  when 
irritated  a  snorting  noise.  In  Europe,  its  favorite  haunts  are  the 
\lps,  the  Appenines,  the  Pyrenees,  and  the  mountains  of  Tyrol 
n  Asia,  it  is  found  in  the  mountain  chains  of  the  Taurus. 


HUNTING   THE   PACA. 


167 


THE   DUSKY   FACA. 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

HUNTING  THE    PACA,   THE   AGOUTI,   THE   VISCACHA,  AND  THB 
CHINCHILLA. 

HE  Dusky  Pacha,  according 
to  Cuvier,  is  identical  with 
the  Fulvous  Paca;  but  we 
have  examined  the  skulls,  and 
find  them  different.  In  the 
former,  the  hones  of  the  skull 
are  smooth,  and  the  zygomatic 
arches  less  inordinately  de- 
veloped. The  general  color  of 
the  Dusky  Paca  is  brownish- 
black,  with  four  lateral  rows  of  white  spots,  which  begin  on  the 
shoulders  and  terminate  on  the  buttocks.  The  lowest  line  is 
almost  confounded  with  the  white  of  the  under  surface — the  sides 
of  the  lower  jaw,  the  throat,  and  chest  are  also  white.  Total  length 
of  head  and  body,,  about  two  feet ;  average  height  fourteen  inches 
These  animals  are  natives  of  the  whole  of  the  eastern  portion  01 
South  America,  from  Surinam  to  Paraguay,  and  formerly  existed 
also  in  some  of  the  islands  of  the  West  Indies.  Forests  in  the 


168  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


init}  of  water,  wooded,  marshy  places,  and  borders  of  rivers  are 
their  favorite  localities  ;  they  inhabit  burrows,  which  they  excavate, 
but  so  superficially,  that  they  are  apt  to  give  way  beneath  the  foot 
of  a  person  passing  over  them,  no  less  to  his  annoyance  than  that 
of  the  animal  which  thus  finds  itself  in  open  daylight.  These 
burrows  have,  it  has  been  asserted,  three  openings,  which  the 
animal  conceals  with  dry  leaves  and  branches.  In  order  to  capture 
the  Paca  alive,  the  hunter  stops  two  of  these  apertures,  and  pro 
ceeds  to  work  at  the  third,  till  he  arrives  at  the  chamber  to  which 
the  apertures  lead.  Driven  to  extremity,  the  Paca  makes  a  severe 
resistance,  often  inflicting  severe  wounds. 

When  not  distutbed,  the  Paca  often  sits  up  and  washes  its  head 
and  whiskers  with  its  two  fore  paws,  which  it  licks  and  moistens 
with  its  saliva  at  each  ablution,  like  a  cat ;  and  with  its  fore-paws, 
as  well  as  with  the  hind  ones,  it  often  scratches  itself  and  dresses 
its  fur.  Though  heavy  and  corpulent,  it  can  run  with  a  good  deal 
of  activity,  and  often  takes  lively  jumps.  It  swims  and  dives  with 
great  adroitness,  and  its  cry  resembles  the  grunt  of  a  young  pig. 
Its  food  consists  of  fruits  and  tender  plants,  which  it  seeks  in  the 
night,  hardly  ever  quitting  its  burrow  in  the  day,  the  strong  light 
of  which,  as  is  the  case  with  other  nocturnal  animals,  is  oppressive 
to  its  eye.  The  planter  often  rues  the  visits  made  by  these  mid- 
night foragers  to  his  sugar-canes.  The  female  is  said  to  bring 
forth  in  the  rainy  season,  and  to  produce  but  a  single  young  one, 
which  stays  a  long  time  with  its  mother.  The  Pacas  are  very 
clean  animals  in  all  their  habits,  and  keep  their  subterranean 
dwelling  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  purity. 

The  Agouti  use  the  fore-paws  as  hands  to  convey  their  food  to 
the  mouth,  and  usually  sit  upright  on  their  haunches  to  eat ;  they 
frequently  also  assume  the  same  position  in  order  to  look  around 
them,  or  when  they  are  surprised  by  any  unusual  sound  or  occur- 
rence. Their  food  is  exclusively  of  a  vegetable  nature,  and  consists 
most  commonly  of  wild  yams,  potatoes,  and  other  tuberous  roots ; 
in  the  islands  of  the  different  West  India  groups,  they  are  particu- 
larly destructive  to  the  sugar-cane — of  the  roots  of  which  they  are 
•xtremely  fond.  The  planters  employ  every  artifice  for  destroying 


BUNTING   THE   AGOUTI   AND   VISCACHA.  169 


THE   AGOUTI. 

them,  so  that  at  present  they  have  become  comparatively  rare  in 
the  sugar  islands,  though  at  the  first  settlement  of  the  Antilles  and 
Bahamas  they  swarmed  in  multitudes,  and  were  the  principal 
article  of  food  for  the  Indians. 

The  Agouti  is  very  abundant  in  Brazil  and  Guiana,  and  occurs 
also  in  Paraguay,  where  it  was  observed  by  D'Azara,  who  informs 
us  that  the  Guianians  term  it  Cotia ;  in  size  it  is  about  equal  to  a 
rabbit,  but  it  rarely  if  ever  makes  a  burrow.  It  frequents  densely 
wooded  districts  in  preference  to  open  land,  and  generally  takes  up 
its  residence  in  the  hollow  trunks  of  decayed  trees,  where  it  remains 
concealed  during  the  day.  This  retreat  usually  serves  for  several 
individuals,  for  it  appears  to  be  gregarious,  associating  in  small 
troops  of  eighteen  or  twenty  individuals.  Its  movements  are  rapid, 
active  and  abrupt,  and  when  chased,  it  bounds  along-  like  a  hare, 
to  gain  its  accustomed  hiding-place. 

In  Brazil  and  Guiana,  the  agouti  is  exposed  to  wholesale  de- 
struction for  the  sake  of  its  flesh,  which  is  said  to  be  intermediate 
in  flavor  between  the  hare  and  rabbit ;  but  in  Paraguay,  according 
to  D'Azara,  no  one  eats  it,  and  M.  Moreau  St.  Mery,  observes 
that  it  has  a  strong  sort  of  flavor,  and  is  a  dish  of  little  relish  to 
the  palate.  The  latter  writer  also  informs  us  that  the  agouti  is 
common  in  the  island  of  St.  Lucia,  and  also  inhabits  others  of  the 
West  Indian  group  :  and  that  in  1788  several  were  taken  in  St. 
Domingo,  which  had  made  a  hollow  tree  their  domicil. 

The  Viscacha  is  thus  described  by  Mr.  Bennett. 

Taking  the  place  of  the  rabbit,  which  is  wanting  m  Peru,  there 
is  another  kind  of  animal  called  viscacha,  which  is  not  found  in 

15 


170  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


duito.  In  form,  and  in  the  color  of  its  fur,  it  is  similar  to  the 
rabbit  but  differs  from  it  in  having  a  long  tail  furnished  with  tufted 
hair  (like  that  of  the  squirrel,)  which  is  very  thin  towards  the  root, 
but  thick  and  long  as  it  approaches  the  tip.  It  does  not  carry  ita 
tail  turned  over  the  head  like  the  squirrel,  but  stretched  out,  as  it 
were  in  a  horizontal  direction ;  its  joints  are  slender  and  scaly. 
These  animals  conceal  themselves  in  holes  of 'the  rocks,  in  which 
they  make  their  retreats,  not  forming  burrows  in  the  earth  like 
rabbits.  There  they  congregate  in  considerable  numbers,  and  are 
mostly  seen  in  a  sitting  posture,  but  not  eating  ;  they  feed  on  the 
herbs  and  shrubs  that  grow  among  the  rocks,  and  are  very  active 
Their  means  of  escape  do  not  consist  in  the  velocity  of  their  flight 
but  in  the  promptitude  with  which  they  run  to  the  shelter  of  their 
holes.  This  they  commonly  do  when  wounded  ;  for  which  reason 
the  mode  of  killing  them  is  by  shooting  them  in  the  head  ;  as  if 
they  receive  the  charge  in  any  other  part,  although  much  injured, 
they  do  not  fail  to  go  and  die  in  the  interior  of  their  burrows.  They 
have  this  peculiarity,  that  as  soon  as  they  die  their  hair  falls  off,  and 
on  this  account,  although  it  is  softer  and  somewhat  longer  and  finer 
than  that  of  the  rabbit,  the  skin  cannot  be  made  use  of  for  common 
purposes.  The  flesh  is  white  but  not  well  flavored,  being  especially 
distasteful  at  certain  seasons,  when  it  is  altogether  repugnant  to  the 
palate. 

The  Chinchilla  Lanigera,  whose  fur  was  formerly  so  generally 
used  as  an  article  of  dress  and  ornament,  is  another  species  of  the 
Lagotis  found  in  Peru.  Is  also  bears  the  name  of  Viscacha  or 
Biscacha  among  the  natives.  It  digs  its  burrows  in  the  more 
elevated  parts  of  the  plains  with  so  much  art,  that  no  aperture  is 
left  by  which  the  rain  can  penetrate ;  and  these  burrows  are 
divided  into  distinct  settlements,  numerous  families  inhabiting  the 
same  locality.  On  the  surface  of  the  ground  are  several  entrances 
to  the  burrows,  at  which,  towards  sunset,  they  are  seen  seated  in 
crowds,  diligently  listening  for  the  sound- of  any  person  approach 
ing.  If  everything  remains  quiet,  they  seek  their  food  in  the 
obscurity  of  the  night,  and  commit  grievous  devastation  on  the 
neighboring  fields,  devouring  both  wheat  and  Indian  corn  with 


HUNTING    THE    CHINCHILLA. 


171 


THE   CHINCHILLA. 

extreme  a\  Idity,  and  when  either  is  to  be  had,  despising  grass. 
For  this  reason  the  stations  of  the  Biscachas  are  rarely  to  be  seen 
in  the  desert  plains,  but  indicate  with  certainty  the  near  neighbor- 
hood of  the  Spanish  settlements.  I  have  often  wondered  never  to 
have  seen  the  Biscacha  in  the  territories  either  of  the  Abipones 
or  the  Guaranis,  although  well  supplied  with  all  kinds  of  crops 
They  daily  heap  up,  at  the  entrance  of  their  burrow,  dry  bones, 
chips  of  wood,  or  whatever  other  refuse  they  may  meet  with,  but 
for  what  purposes  they  collect  such  things  it  is  impossible  even  tc 
conjecture.  The  Spanish  colonists  amuse  themselves  with  hunt- 
ing them  ;  pouring  many  buckets  of  water  into  their  subterraneous 
retreats,  until,  to  avoid  drowning,  the  animals  come  forth  into  the 
plain,  where,  no  means  of  escape  being  afforded  them,  they  are 
killed  with  sticks.  Their  flesh,  unless  when  very  old,  is  not  con- 
sidered despicable  even  by  the  Spaniards."  The'  Abbe  Jolis 
dwelt  for  twelve  years  in  South  America,  and  made  three  -journeys 
into  the  remote  districts  of  the  interior.  His  work,  '  Saggio  sulla 
Storia  Naturale  della  Provincia  del  Granchaco'  (Faenza,  1789,)  is 
60  little  known,  and  his  description,  in  some  particulars,  differs  so 
much  from  that  of  Dobrizhoffer,  that  we  give  Mr.  Bennett's  trans- 


172  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


lation  of  it.  '  The  Biscachas  live  in  society,  i  n  burrows  undei 
ground,  which  they  form  for  themselves,  excavating -in  all  direc- 
tions to  the  extent  of  a  mile  in  circumference,  with  various  exits 
and  separate  retreats,  in  which  the  old  live  distinct  from  the 
younger.  The  soil  in  which  these  are  usually  made  is  that  which 
is  hard  and  barren,  and  destitute  of  everything,  but  with  bushes 
(bcscaglie)  at  no  great  distance,  and  pasture  of  tender  grass,  roots, 
and  the  bark  of  trees.  They  collect  around  -their  retreats  bones, 
dried  leaves,  and  whatever  they  find  in  the  neighborhood  :  if  any- 
thing is  missing  in  their  districts,  it  is  to  be  found  with  certainty 
piled  up  in  these  situations  the  following  day.  As  they  are  ani- 
mals that  avoid  the  light,  having  little  power  of  vision,  they  are 
not  to  be  seen  in  the  day-time,  unless  at  dawn,  or  towards  evening 
after  sunset.  The  night,  and  especially  when  the  moon  shines, 
is  the  proper  time  for  seeking  their  food.  Those  among  the 
Biscachas  which  are  called  Chinchillas,  and  which  may  be  said 
to  belong  to  the  first  species,  inhabit  omy  the  mountains  and  cold 
situations  ;  in  size  they  are  like  a  rabbit,  and  are  clothed  with  a 
fine  long  fur.  Their  agility  is  surprising ;  they  are  seen  leaping 
from  rock  to  rock  as  if  they  had  the  faculty  of  flight.  The  others, 
indicated  above,  inhabit  the  level  country,  in  warm  situations.  .  .  . 
Fierce  and  courageous,  they  defend  themselves  with  all  their 
might  against  the  dogs,  and  sometimes  even  attack  the  legs  of 
the  hunters.  I  shall  speak  in  my  travels,  as  a  fitter  place,  of  the 
three  curious  modes  in  which  they  are  driven  out  of  their  retreats ; 
that  is  to  say,  with  water,  with  fire,  and  by  rubbing  sticks  to- 
gether." 


HUNTING    THE    MOOSE. 


ITS 


THE    MOOSE. 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

HUNTING   THE   MOOSE. 

animal  is  the  largest  of  the  genus  Alces,  oeing  higher  at 
{Li  the  shoulders  than  the  horse ;  its  horns  weigh  sometimes 
near  fifty  pounds ;  accordingly,  to  bear  this  heavy  weight,  its  neck 
is  short  and  strong,  taking  away  much  of  the  elegance  of  propor- 
tion so  generally  predominant  in  the  deer ;  but  when  it  is  asserted 
that  the  elk  wants  beauty  or  majesty,  the  opinion  can  be  enter 
tained  by  those  who  have  seen  the  female  only,  the  young,  or  the 
mere  stuffed  specimens  ;  for  those  who  have  had  the  opportunity  of 
viewing  the  animal  in  all  the  glory  of  its  full-grown  horns,  amid 
the  scenery  of  his  own  wilderness,  no  animal  could  appear  more 
majestic  or  more  imposing.  It  is  however  the  aggregate  of  his 
appearance  which  produces  this  effect;  for  when  the  proportions 
of  its  structure  are  considered  in  detail,  they  certainly  will  seem 
destitute  of  the  harmony  of  parts  which  in  the  imagination  pro- 


174  HTJNTTXO     ADVENTURES. 


duces  the  feeling  of  beauty.  The  head  measuring  abcre  two  feet 
.n  length,  is  narrow  and  clumsily  shaped,  by  the  swelling  upon 
the  upper  part  of  the  nose  and  nostrils ;  the  eye  is  proportionably 
small,  and  sunk  ;  the  ears  long,  hairy,  and  asinine  ;  the  neck  and 
Withers  are  surmounted  by  a  heavy  mane ;  and  the  throat  fur- 
nished with  long  coarse  hair,  and,  in  younger  specimens,  encum- 
bered with  a  pendulous  gland :  these  give  altogether  an  uncouth 
character  to  this  part  of  the  animal.  Its  body,  however,  is  round, 
compact,  and  short ;  the  tail  not  more  than  four  inches  long ;  and 
the  legs,  though  very  long,  are  remark;  bly  clean  and  firm  ;  this 
length  of  limb  and  the  overhanging  lips  have  caused  the  ancients 
to  fancy  that  it  grazed  walking  backwards.  The  hair  of  the  ani- 
mal is  coarse  and  angular,  breaking  if  bent.  Its  movements  are 
rather  heavy,  and  the  shoulders  being  higher  than  the  croup,  it 
dues  not  gallop,  but  shuffles  or  ambles  along,  its  joints  cracking  at 
every  step,  with  a  sound  heard  to  some  distance.  Increasing  its 
speed,  the  hind-feet  straddle  to  avoid  treading  on  its  fore-heels, 
tossing  the  head  and  shoulders  like  a  horse  about  to  break  from  a 
trot  to  a  gallop,  tt  does  not  leap,  but  steps  without  effort  over  a 
fallen  tree,  a  gate,  or  a  split  fence.  During  its  progress,  it  holds 
the  nose  up,  so  as  to  lay  the  horns  horizontally  back.  This  atti 
tude  prevents  its  seeing  the  ground  distinctly  ;  and  as  the  weight 
is  carried  very  high  upon  the  elevated  legs,  it  is  said  sometimes 
to  trip  by  treading  on  its  fore-heels,  or  otherwise,  and  occasionally 
to  give  itself  a  heavy  fall.  It  is  probably  owing  to  this  occur- 
rence that  the  elk  was  believed  by  the  ancients  to  have  frequent 
attacks  of  epilepsy,  and  to  be  obliged  to  smell  its  hoof  before  it 
could  recover ;  hence  the  Teutonic  name  of  Elend  (miserable j, 
and  the  reputation,  especially  of  the  fore-hoofs,  as  a  specific 
ngainst  the  disease."  (Smith.) 

Dr.  Richardson  gives  the  following  succinct  account  of  their 
habits  and  food,  and  of  the  mode  of  hunting  them. 

"  In  the  more  northern  parts  the  moose-deer  is  quite  a  solitary 
animal,  more  than  one  being  very  seldom  seen  at  a  time,  unless 
during  the  rutting  season,  or  when  the  female  is  accompanied  by 
her  fawns.  It  his  the  sense  of  hearing  in  very  great  perfection 


HUNTING    THE    MOOSE.  177 


and  is  the  most  shy  and  wary  of  all  the  deer  species ;  an  I  on  this 
account  the  art  of  moose-hunting  is  looked  upon  as  the  greatest 
of  an  Indian's  acquirements,  particularly  by  the  Creeks  who  take 
to  themselves  the  credit  of  being  able  to  instruct  the  hunters  of 
every  other  tribe.  The  skill  of  a  moose-hunter  is  most  tried  in 
the  early  part  of  the  winter ;  for  during  the  summer,  the  moose, 
as  well  as  other  animals,  are  so  much  tormented  by  musquitoes, 
that  they  become  regardless  of  the  approach  of  man.  In  the 
winter  the  hunter  tracks  the  moose  by  its  foot-marks  in  the  snow, 
and  it  is  necessary  that  he  should  keep  constantly  to  leeward  of 
the  chase,  and  make  his  advances  with  the  utmost  caution,  for  the 
rustling  of  a  withered  leaf  or  the  cracking  of  a  rotten  twig  is  suffi- 
cient to  alarm  the  watchful  beast.  The  difficulty  of  approach  is 
increased  by  a  habit  which  the  moose-deer  has  of  making  daily  a 
sharp  turn  in  its  route,  and  choosing  a  place  of  repose  so  near 
some  part  of  its  path  that  it  can  hear  the  least  noise  made  by  one 
that  attempts  to  track  it.  To  avoid  this,  the  judicious  hunter, 
instead  of  walking  in  the  animal's  footsteps,  forms  his  judgment 
from  the  appearance  of  the  country,  of  the  direction  it  is  likely  to 
have  taken,  and  makes  a  circuit  to  leeward  until  he  again  finds 
the  track.  This  manoeuvre  is  repeated  until  he  discovers,  by  the 
softness  of  the  snow  in  the  foot-marks,  and  other  signs,  that  he  is 
very  near  the  chase.  He  then  disencumbers  himself  of  every- 
thing that  might  embarrass  his  motions,  and  makes  his  approach 
in  the  most  cautious  manner.  If  he  gets  close  to  the  animal's  lair 
without  being  seen,  it  is  usual  for  him  to  break  a  small  twig 
which,  alarming  the  moose,  it  instantly  starts  up  ;  but,  not  fully 
aware  of  the  danger,  squats  on  its  hams,  and  voids  its  urine,  pre- 
paratory to  setting  ofF.  In  this  posture  it  presents  the  fairest 
mark,  and  the  hunter's  shot  seldom  fails  to  take  effect  in  a  mortal 
part.  In  the  rutting  season  the  bucks  lay  aside  their  timidity, 
and  attack  every  animal  that  comes  in  their  way,  and  even  con- 
quer their  fear  of  man  himself.  The  hunters  then  bring  them 
within  gun-shot  by  scraping  on  the  blade-bone  of  a  deer  and  by 
whistling,  which,  deceiving  the  male,  he  blindly  hastens  to  the 

spot  to  assail  his  supposed  rival.     If  the  hunter  fails  in  giving  it  a 
12 


178  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


moital  wound  as  :t  approaches,  he  shelters  himself  from  its  f  «ry 
behind  a  tree,  and  I  have  heard  of  several  instances  in  which  the 
enraged  animal  has  completely  stripped  the  bark  from  the  trunk 
of  a  large  tree  by  striking  with  its  fore-feet.  In  the  spring-time, 
when  the  snow  is  very  deep,  the  hunters  frequently  run  down  the 
•noose  on  snow-shoes.  An  instance  is  recorded  in  the  narrative 
of  Captain  Franklin's  second  journey,  where  three  hunters  pur- 
sued a  moose-deer  for  four  successive  days,  until  the  footsteps  of 
the  chase  were  marked  with  blood,  although  they  had  not  yet  got 
a  view  of  it.  At  this  period  of  the  pursuit  the  principal  hunter 
had  the  misfortune  to  sprain  his  ankle,  and  the  two  others  were 
tired  out ;  but  one  of  them,  having  rested  for  twelve  hours,  set 
out  again,  and  succeeded  in  killing  the  animal  after  a  further  pur- 
suit of  two  days'  continuance.  Notwithstanding  the  lengthened 
chase  which  the  moose  can  sustain  when  pursued  in  the  snow, 
Hearne  remarks  that  it  is  both  tender-footed  and  short-winded  ; 
and  that,  were  it  found  in  a  country  free  from  underwood,  and 
dry  under  foot,  it  would  become  an  easy  prey  to  horsemen  and 
dogs.  The  same  author  informs  us  that  in  the  summer  moose- 
deer  are  often  killed  in  the  water  by  the  Indians  who  have  the 
fortune  to  surprise  them  while  they  are  crossing  rivers  or  lakes, 
and  that  at  such  times  they  are  the  most  inoffensive  of  animals, 
never  making  any  resistance. 

"  The  young  ones  in  particular,"  says  he,  "are  so  simple,  that 
I  remember  to  have  seen  an  Indian  paddle  his  canoe  up  to  one  of 
them,  and  take  it  by  the  poll,  without  experiencing  the  least  oppo- 
sition, the  poor  harmless  animal  seeming  at  the  same  time  as  con- 
tented alongside  the  canoe  as  if  swimming  by  the  side  of  its  dam, 
and  looking  up  in  our  faces  with  the  same  fearless  innocence  that 
a  house-lamb  would,  making  use  of  its  fore  foot  almost  every 
instant  to  clear  its  eyes  of  musquitoes,  which  at  that  time  were 
remarkably  numerous.  The  moose  is  the  easiest  to  tame  and 
domesticate  of  any  of  the  deer  kind.'' 


HUNTING    AXTEL 


179 


THE    CnEETAH. 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

HUNTING   ANTELOPES  WITH   THE   CHEETAH. 

THE  cheetah,  or  hunting  leopard 
is  spread  extensively  throughout 
Africa  and  India.  Mr.  Bennett  ob- 
serves that  "  Chardin,  Bernier,  Tavei- 
nier,  and  others  of  the  older  travellers, 
had  related  that  in  several  parts  of 
Asia  it  was  customary  to  make  use 
of  a  large  spotted  cat  in  the  pursuit 
of  game,  and  that  this  animal  was 
youze  in  Persia,  and  cheetah  in  India;"  but  the  statements  of  these 
writers  were  so  imperfect,  and  the  descriptions  given  by  them  so 
incomplete,  that  it  was  next  to  impossible  to  recognize  fhe  par- 
ticular species  intended.  We  now,  however,  know  with  certainty 
that  the  animal  thus  employed  is  Fells  jubata  of  naturalists,  which 
inhabits  the  greater  part  both  of  Asia  and  Africa.  It  is  common 
in  India  and  Sumatra,  as  well  as  in  Persia,  and  is  well  known  in 
Seneo-al  and  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope ;  but  the  ingenuity  of  the 
savage  natives  of  the  latter  countries  has  not,  so  far  as  we  know,, 
been  exerted  in  rendering  its  services  available  in  the  chase,  in 
the  manner  so  successfully  practised  by  the  more  refined  and 
civilized  inhabitants  of  Persia  and  Hindostan. 

The  cheetah  differs  in   one  or  two  places  from  the  typical  of 
'ts  lace.     The  Felida  in  general  possesses  a  broad,  rounded  paw. 


180 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


s 


THE   CHEETAH. 


armed  with  sharp-hooked  and  completely  retracile  claws  *iiich 
are  protruded  at  pleasure ;  but  in  the  cheetah  the  foo  being 
narrow,  and  more  like  that  of  a  dog,  the  claws  from  the  Ljcity  of 
the  spring-ligatures,  are  partially  retraced  and  are  consequently 
worn  and  blunted  at  the  points.  As  large  in  the  body  as  the 
leopard,  the  cheetah  is  superior  to  that  animal  in  height,  and 
diners  from  it  also  in  general  figure,  tn  the  first  place,  the  limbs, 
unfitted  for  climbing,  are  long,  slender,  and  tapering,-  and  the 
body,  which  is  deficient  in  length,  reminds  one  in  some  degree  of 
that  of  the  greyhound. 

The  skin  of  the  cheetah  is  an  article  of  some  importance  in 
trade  in  Senegal,  but  is  neglected  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope , 
this  animal  called  linpard  by  the  Dutch  colonists  is  indeed  rare  in 
that  district,  but  the  skin  is  occasionally  seen  worn  by  KafTre  chiefs, 
by  way  of  distinction.  In  Africa,  tne  rude  natives  never  drearn 
of  employing  the  cheetah,  as  a  means  of  procuring  food :  they 
know  not  its  value  at  the  chase.  In  Persia  and  India,  it  has, 
however,  been  employed  from  an  early  period.  In  the  "  Field 


HUNTING    THE    ANTELOPE. 

Sports  of  India,"  the  mode  of  coursing  with  the  cheetah  is  thus 
described.  They  (the  cheetahs'),  are  led  out  in  chains,  with 
blinds  over  their  eyes,  and  sometimes  carried  out  in  carts,  and 
when  antelopes,  or  deer,  are  "seen  on  a  plain,  should  any  of  them 
be  separated  from  the  rest,  the  cheetah's  head  is  brought  to  face  it, 
and  the  blinds  taken_  off.  He  immediately  crouches,  and  creeps 
along  with  his  belly  almost  touching  the  ground,  until  he  gets 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  deer,  who,  although  seeing  him 
approach,  appears  so  fascinated  that  he  seldom  attempts  to  run 
away.  The  cheetah  then  takes  a  few  surprising  springs,  and 
seizes  the  deer  by  the  neck.  If  many  deer  are  near  each  other, 
they  often  escape  by  flight,  their  number  perhaps  giving  them 
confidence. 

We  may  add  to  this,  that  the  cheetah  takes  advantage  of  every 
means  of  making  its  attack,  and  that  when  unsuccessful  in  its 
effort,  it  returns  sullenly  to  its  keeper,  who  replaces  the  hood,  and 
reserves  him  for  another  opportunity.  When,  however,  he  has 
grappled  with  the  quarry  and  fixed  himself  upon  its  throat,  drink- 
ing the  life-blood  warm,  his  nature  breaks  out  with  all  its  violence, 
so  that  it  requires  some  management  to  separate  him  from  his 
victim.  Partly  awed  by  the  keeper's  voice,  partly  enticed  by 
pieces  of  meat,  and  a  ladleful  of  the  blood,  he  is  induced  to  relin- 
quish the  prize,  and  submit  to  be  again  hooded.  In  all  thi*  we 
are  reminded  of  the  art  of  falconing. 

In  captivity  the  cheetah  is  gentle,  familiar  and  playrul.  It 
becomes  greatly  attached  to  those  who  feed  or  notice  it.  The 
disposition  of  these  beautiful  creatures  is,  indeed,  frank  and  con- 
fiding, and  consequently  there  is  little  trouble  in  rendering  them 
perfectly  domestic.  Their  voice  of  pleasure  is  a  pur;  of  uneasi- 
ness or  hunger,  a  short  reiterated  mew. 


182 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


THE    KANGAROO. 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

HUNTING    THE    KANGAROO. 

UNTING  the  Kangaroo  is  an  amusement  peculiar  to 
New  Holland.  The  following  sketches  of  it,  are 
from  an  English  periodical.  We  copy  literally. 

These  sketches  of  what  may  now  be  considered 
the  favorite  colonial  sport  of  Australia,  have  been 
derived  from  the  Sketch-book  of  a  Settlei.  who  was  so  struck  with 
the  novelty  of  the  chase,  that  '  e  has -attempted  to  portray  a  few  of 


KILLING  4  BOOMSR;  OR,  KANGAROO 


HUNTING    THE   KANGAROO.  185 


its  oddities.  Every  one  familiar  with  the  writings  of  Sydney 
Smith  will  recollect  his  ludicrous  portrait  of  the  kangaroo,  "a 
monstrous  animal,  as  tall  as  a  grenadier,  with  the  head  of  a 
rabbit,  a  tail  as  big  as  a  bedpost,  hopping  along  at  the  rate  of 
five  hops  to  a  mile,  with  three  or  four  young  Kangaroos  looking 
out  of  its  false  uterus,  to  see  what  is  passing." 

That  extraordinary  animal,  the  Kangaroo,  discovered  by  Captain 
Cook,  is  now  so  well  known,  that  a  description  of  it,  in  addition  to 
our  illustrations,  would  be  superfluous.  Our  countrymen  pursued 
it  in  New  Holland  with  greyhounds,  and  the  leaps  which  it  took 
surprised  those  who  beheld  it  clear  obstacles  seven  or  eight  feet 
high.  In  size  it  equals  a  sheep,  some  of  the  largest  weighing 
1401bs ;  and  the  flesh  is  represented  by  those  who  have  tasted  it 
as  being  a  little  like  venison.  The  tail  is  said  to  make  rich  and 
savory  soup.  The  species  breed  pretty  freely  in  England,  and 
has  been  kept  with  success  in  our  parks. 

Of  Kangaroos  there  exist  a  great  variety  of  different  species  : 
among  the  larger  ones  is  the  common  Kangaroo,  called  the 
"Forester"  and  "the  Old  Man"  in  New  South  Wales;  and 
the  red  and  woolly  Kangaroos.  They  associate  together  in  herds 
of  greater  or  less  extent  upon  the  open  downs  and  forests  devoid 
of  underwood,  feed  exclusively  upon  grass  and  vegetables ;  and 
though  never  fat,  are  held  in  high  estimation  by  colonial  epicures. 

The  native  name  for  the  Kangaroo  is"  boomer;"  hence  the 
boomerang,  the  strange-looking,  angular  implement  with  which 
the  Australians  kill  the  animal ;  and  the  throwing  of  which  has 
puzzled  our  mechanicians,  and  amused  our  boyhood. 

The  natives  are  very  cunning  in  taking  the  kangaroo.  They 
go  forth  to  the  chase  armed,  only  with  a  slender  spear  and  a  short 
stick ;  depending  more  on  their  own  subtlety  and  acuteness, 
when  in  pursuit  of  wild  animals,  than  on  the  efficiency  of  their 
weapons.  The  scrub  natives  go  out  in  large  parties,  and  surround 
their  game,  drive  them  towards  large  nets,  in  which  they  become 
entangled.  Mr.  Angas,  in  his  "  Savage  Life  and  Scenes  in 
At  ralia  and  New  Zealand,"  tells  us  that  he  has  seen  single 


186  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


nets  of  this  kind  forty  feet  in  length,  and  curie,  sly  manufactured 
out  of  the  fibre's  of  bulrush  root. 

Mr.  Angas  relates  the  following  interesting  picture  of  the 
chase  : 

"  In  the  hollow  valleys  bordering  upon  the  scrub  we  frequently 
put  up  kangaroos.  These  timid  creatures,  which  we  disturbed 
while  they  were  feeding,  immediately  took  to  the  desert;  and 
many  a  famous  chase  we  had  after  them,  over  gum  bushes  and 
the  rough  surface  of  the  loose  limestone  rocks.  It  is  an  extra- 
ordinary sight  to  see  so  large  an  animal  clearing  the  bushes,  and 
springing  high  into  the  air  with  such  astonishing  agility.  To-day 
we  put  up  a  (  boomer '  and  a  couple  of  dogs :  we  took  after  the 
former,  the  dogs  following  close  upon  his  track.  Down-hill  our 
horses  were  the  losers,  the  kangaroo  gaining  on  us  rapidly  by 
his  enormous  flying  leaps  ;  but  at  two  miles  the  dogs  closed  with 
him,  and  we  came  up  as  he  stood  at  bay.  He  was  a  noble  crea 
ture,  and  fought  desperately  with  his  fore-paws ;  a  single  kick 
with  his  hind  feet  would  have  laid  any  one  of  the  dogs  dead.  It 
was  a  cruel  sight  to  see  the  poor  beast  struggling  hard  for  life 
beneath  the  bright  sky,  in  his  own  free  deserts ;  his  large  and 
eloquent  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and, his  head  and  shoulders  covered 
with  blood.' 

The  same  tourist  next  gives  us  the  following  animated  descrip- 
tion of  a  sporting  excursion : 

"  About  thirty  miles  to  the  north-west  of  Boston  Bay  is  a  range 
of  mountains  called  the  Marble  Range,  near  which  is  a  beautiful 
lake  of  fresh  water,  known  as  Waungarrie  Lake.  I  started  with 
two  companions,  on  horseback,  to  visit  this  interesting  tract  of 
country,  which  was  only  known  to  a  few  of  the  settlers,  and 
promised  to  afford  good  subjects  for  my  pencil.  At  three  milei 
from  the  settlement  we  reached  '  the  Swamp,'  so  called  from  a 
reedy  lake  adjoining  the  farm.  Several  other  stations  were 
passed,  belonging  to  flock-owners  and  agricultural  settlers,  and 
we  then  struck  into  a  grassy  country  studded  with  casuarina  and 
Bunktia  trees.  Farther  on,  the  aspect  of  the  scene  was  very 


HUNTING    THE    KANGAROO.  187 


similar  to  that  of  the  districts  round  Mount  Ber^on  and  lake 
Hawden,  towards  Rivoli  Bay.  Here,  also,  I  observed  the  biscuit 
tufa,  much  of  which  was  extremely  small,  being  no  larger  than 
a  wafer,  and  lying  very  thickly  scattered  over  the  ground.  We 
met  Smith  and  Hawson  returning  from  hunting  in  the  scrub,  each 
with  a  'large  kangaroo  slung  across  his  saddle,  and  their  stock- 
whips curled  round  their  shoulders.  They  presented  admirable 
examples  of  full  bush  costume,  in  their  blue  woollen  shirts,  with 
appendages  of  pannikins,  tether-ropes,  and  rifles.  We  prevailed 
upon  them  to  accompany  us  ;  and  the  kangaroos  and  an  emu  that 
we  had  killed  were  planted  (to  use  a  colonial  term1*  in  the  boughs 
of  a  she-oak  tree,  to  remain  in  safety  until  our  return.  Upon  the 
open  ecrubby  plains  and  the  low  grassy  hills,  we  observed 
numerous  kangaroos.  They  frequently  appeared  in  flocks  of 
eight  or  ten  at  a  time,  and  give  constant  sport  to,  the  dogs. 

"  The  rain  poured  down  heavily  until  near  sunset,  when  it 
cleared  off",  and  we  were  amply  rewarded  for  our  ride  by  the 
enchanting  prospect  before  us.  The  mountains  of  the  Marble 
Range,  rising  abruptly,  and  presenting  their  steep  sides  of  quartz 
to  the  evening  sun,  sparkled  in  its  rays  as  though  inlaid  with 
diamonds  ;  and  a  richly  verdant  country  stretched  out  all  around, 
scattered  with  park-like  trees,  in  the  centre  of  which,  surrounded 
by  green  banks  of  velvet  turf,  lay  Waungarrie  Lake.  The  calm 
surface  of  the  water  mirrorred  the  sunset  clouds,  and  was 
besprinkled  with  multitudes  of  black  swans  ;  while,  some  kanga- 
roos were  quietly  feeding  near  the  water,  undisturbed  by  dogs  or 
savages,  for  no  traces  of  the  natives  were  discernible. 

f»  My  companions  had  already  built  a  tolerably  snug  shelter  of 
boughs  for  the  night,  and  we  sat  down  in  front  of  it,  with  OUT 
pannikins  of  tea,  around  a  blazing  fire,  busied  in  roasting  kangaroo 
steaks  upon  the  ashes.  The  night  was  mild,  with  thunder  and 
lightning.  This  country,  which  is  entirely  uninhabited,  would 
afford  an  excellent  district  for  sheep  or  cattle,  and  I  know  of  no 
situation  more  enticing  for  a  settler's  homestead,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Port  Lincoln,  than  the  banks  of  Waungarrie  Lake." 


188 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

A  FRENCH    OFFICER   HUNTING   LIONESSES. 

HE  following  narrative  js 
from  the  French  Journal 
des  Chasseurs,  to  which  it 
was  contributed  by  Mr, 
Jules  Gerard,  as  a  remi- 
niscence of  his  service  in 
Algeria : 

"  I  knew  of  a  large  old 
lion  in  the  Smauls  coun- 
try and  betook  myself  in  that  direction.  On  arriving  I  heard  that 
he  was  in  the  Bonarif,  near  Batnah.  My  ten.  •"*•-  not  yet  pitched 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  when  I  learned  that  ^  "^s  at  the 
Fed  Jong,  where,  on  my  arrival,  I  found  that  he  had  gained  the 
Aures.  After  travelling  one  hundred  leagues  in  ten  days  in  the 
trace  of  my  brute  without  catching  a  glimpse  of  anything  but  his 
foot-prints,  I  was  gratified  on  the  night  of  the  22d  of  August  with 
the  sound  of  my  lord's  voice.  I  had  established  my  tent  in  the 
valley  of  Ousten.  As  there  is  only  one  patn  across  this  thickly 
covered  valley,  I  found  it  an  easy  task  to  discover  his  track  and 
follow  it  to  his  lair.  At  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  I  alighted  upon 
a  hillock  commanding  a  prospect  of  the  country  around.  I  was 
accompanied  by  a  native  of  the  country  and  my  spahi,  one  carry- 
ing my  carbine,  the  other  my  old  gun.  As  I  had  anticipated,  the 


HUNTING   THE   LIONESS.  189 


lion  roared  under  cover  at  dawn  of  day ;  but  instead  of  advancing 
toward  me,  he  started  off  in  a  westerly  direction  at  such  a  pace 
that  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  come  up  with  him.  I  retraced 
my  steps  at  midnight  and  took  up  my  quarters  at  the  foot  of  a 
tree  upon  the  path  which  the  lion  had  taken.  The  country  about 
this  spot  was  cleared  and  cultivated.  The  moon  being  favorable, 
the  approach  of  anything  could  be  descried  in  every  direction.  I 
installed  myself  and  waited.  Weary  after  a  ride  of  several  hours 
over  a  very  irregular  country,  and  not  expecting  any  chance  that 
night,  I  enjoined  my  spahi  to  keep  a  good  watch,  and  lay  down. 
I  was  just  about  to  fall  asleep  when  I  felt  a  gentle  pull  at  my 
burnous.  On  getting  up  I  was  able  to  make  out  two  lions,  sitting 
one  beside  the  other,  about  one  hundred  paces  off,  and  exactly  on 
the  path  in  which  I  had  taken  up  my  position.  At  first  I  thought 
we  had  been  perceived,  and  prepared  to  make  the  best  of  this  dis- 
covery. The  moon  shed  a  light  upon  the  entire  ground  which 
the  lions  would  have  to  cross  in  order  to  reach  the  tree,  close  to 
which  all  within  a  circumference  of  ten  paces  was  completely 
dark,  both  on  account  of  the  thickness  of  the  tree  and  the  shadow 
cast  by  the  foliage.  My  spahi,  like  me,  was  in  range  of  the 
shadow,  while  the  Arab  lay  snoring  ten  paces  off  in  the  full  light 
of  the  moon.  There  was  no  doubting  the  fact — it  was  this  man 
who  attracted  the  attention  of  the  lions.  I  expressly  forbade  the 
spahi  to  wake  up  the  Arab,  as  I  was  persuaded  that  when  the 
action  was  over  he  would  be  proud  of  having  served  as  a  bait  even 
without  knowing  it.  I  then  prepared  my  arras  and  placed  them 
against  the  tree  and  got  up,  in  order  the -better  to  observe  the 
movements  of  the  enemy.  •  They  were  not  less  than  half  an  hour 
traversing  a  distance  of  one  hundred  metres.  Although  the 
ground  was  open,  I  could  only  see  them  when  they  raised  their 
heads  to  make  sure  that  the  Arab  was  still  there.  They  took 
advantage  of  every  stone  and  every  tuft  of  grass  to  render  them- 
selves almost  invisible  ;  at  last  the  boldest  of  them  came  up  crouch- 
ing on  his  belly  to  within  ten  paces  of  me  and  fifteen  of  the  Arab 
His  eye  was  fixed  on  the  latter,  and  with  such  an  expression  that 
I  was  afraid  I  had  waited  too  long.  The  second,  who  had  stayed 


190  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


a  few  paces  behind,  came  and  placed  himself  on  a  levt.  with  an«' 
about  four  or  five  paces  from  the  first.  I  then  saw  for  the  first 
time  that  they  were  full-grown  lionesses.  I  took  aim  at  the  first, 
and  she  came  rolling  and  roaring  down  to  the  foot  of  "the  tree. 
The  Arab  was  scarcely  awakened  when  a  second  ball  stretched 
the  animal  dead  upon  the  spot.  The  first  bullet  went  in  at  tha 
muzzle  and  came  out  at  the  tail;  the  second  had  gone  through 
the  heart.  After  making  sure  that  my  men  were  all  right,  I 
looked  out  for  the  second  lioness.  She  was  standing  up  within 
fifteen  paces,  looking  at  what  was  going  on  around  her.  I  took 
my  gun  and  leveled  it  at  her.  She  squatted  down.  When  I 
fired  she  fell  down  roaring,  and  disappeared  in  a  field  of  maize  on 
the  edge  of  the  road.  On  approaching  I  found  by  her  moaning 
that  she  was  still  alive,  and  did  not  venture  at  night  into  the  thick 
plantation  which  sheltered  her.  As  soon  as  it  was  day  I  went  to 
the  spot  where  she  had  fallen,  and  all  I  found  were  blood-marks 
showing  her  track  in  the  direction  of  the  wood.  After  sending 
the  dead  lioness  to  the  neighboring  garrison,  who  celebrated  its 
arrival  by  a  banquet,  I  returned  to  my  post  of  the  previous  night. 
A  little  after  sunset  the  lion  roared  for  the  first  time,  but  insteao 
of  quitting  his  lair  he  remained  there  all  night  roaring  like  a  mad- 
man. Convinced  that  the  wounded  lioness  was  there,  I  sent  on 
the  morning  of  the  24th,  two  Arabs  to  explore  the  cover.  They 
returned  without  daring  to  approach  it.  On  the  night  of  the  24th 
there  was  the  same  roaring  and  complaining  of  the  lion  on  the 
mountain  and  under  cover.  On  the  25th,  at  five  in  the  evening, 
[  had  a  young  goat  muzzled,  and  proceeded  with  it  to  the  moun- 
tain. The  lair  was  exceedingly  difficult  of  access.  Nevertheless 
[  succeeded  at  last  by  crawling  now  on  my  hands  and  now  on  my 
belly  in  reaching  it.  Having  discovered  certain  indications  of  the 
presence  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  locality,  I  had  the  goat  un- 
muzzled and  tied  to  a  tree.  Then  followed  the  most  comical 
panic  on  the  part  of  the  Arabs,  who  were  carrying  my  arms. 
Seeing  themselves  in  the  middle  of  the  lion's  lair,  whom  they 
could  distinctly  smell,  and  hearing  the  horrified  goat  calling  them 
wifch  all  ts  might,  was  a  position  perfectly  intolerable  to  them. 


HUNTING    LIONESSES. 


191 


After  consulting  together  as  to  whether  it  were  better  to  climh  up 
a  tree  or  clamber  on  a  rock,  they  asked  my  permission  to  remain 
near  the  goat.  This  confidence  pleased  me  and  obtained  them 
the  privilege  of  a  place  by  my  side.  I  had  not  been  there  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  when  the  lioness  appeared  ;  she  found  herseli 
suddenly  beside  the  goat,  and  looked  about  her  with  an  air  of 
astonishment.  I  fired,  and  she  fell  without  a  struggle.  '  The 
Arabs  were  already  kissing  my  hands,  and  I  myself  believed  her 
dead,  when  she  got  up  again  as  though  nothing  was  the  matter, 
and  showed  us  all  her  teeth.  One  of  the  Arabs  who  had  run 
oward  her  was  within  six  paces  of  her.  On  seeing  her  get  up 
ne  clung  to  the  lower  branches  of  the  tree  to  which  the  goat  was 
tied,  and  disappeared  like  a  squirrel.  The  lioness  fell  dead  at  the 
foot  of  the  tree,  a  second' bullet  piercing  her  heart.  The  first  bad 
passed  out  of  the  nape  of  the  neck  without  breaking  the  skull 
bone. 


192 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


THE   JAGUAR. 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

HUNTING   THE  JAGUAR. 

HE  Jaguar  is  the  largest  and  most  formicLole 
among  the  Cats  of  the  New  World,  in  the  warmer 
regions  of  which  he  exercises  the  same  cruel 
tyranny  as  the  Lions,  and  Tigers,  and  the  Leo- 
pards, of  the  burning  climates  of  the  Old.  He 
appears  to  be  almost  universally  spread  over  the  southern  division 
of  the  American  continent  from  Paraguay  to  Guiana  :  but  there 
is  no  satisfactory  proof  of  his  having  been  observed  to  the  north 
of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  In  the  neighborhood  of  inhabited 
places  he  is  daily  becoming  more  and  more  rare,  the  ravages 
which  he  commits  upon  the  flocks,  and  the  high  price  that  is 
given  for  his  skin,  forming  a  double  incentive  to  his  destruction. 
His  habits  and  manners  are  almost  precisely  the  same  as  those  of 
the  other  large  animals  of  his  tribe  ;  but  he  is  spoken  of  as  even 
more  indolent  and  cowardly.  Like  them  he  generally  watches 
for  his  prey  in  a  concealed  ambush,  whence  he  darts  upon  it 
unawares,  bearing  it  at  once  to  the  earth  by  his  great  musculai 


HUNTING    THE   JAGUAR.  193 


strength,  and  depriving  it  of  all  power  of  resistance  or  of  flight. 
Occasionally,  however,  when  urged  by  hunger,  he  prowls  abroad 
more  openly,  and  will  even  venture  to  attack  man;  but' rarely  if 
he  finds  him  on  his  guard.  M.  Sonnini  relates  that  one  annoyed 
him  and  his  party  for  two  successive  nights,  during  his  travels  in 
Guiana,  constantly  hovering  about  them,  watching  an  opportunity 
for  falling  on  his  prey,  but  retreating  into  the  bushes  the  moment 
he  perceived  himself  observed,  and  disappearing  with  such 
rapidity  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  a  shot  at  him.  According 
to  the  same  author  and  to  M.  D'Azara,  these  animals  climb  with 
great  dexterity,  swim  with  almost  equal  skill,  and  are  able  to 
carry  c3"  the  bodies  of  their  victims,  ev^n  of  the  largest  quadru- 
peds, such  as  horses  and  oxen,  to  a  place  of  security  where  they 
can  sat'ate  their  appetites  without  risk  of  disturbance.  The 
natives  of  Paraguay  have  a  bold  and  singular  mode  of  hunting 
the  Jaguar.  The  hunter  folds  his  pouch  round  his  left  arm,  by 
way  of  shield,  and  taking  a  spear  in  his  right  hand,  fearlessly 
assail"  him  in  his  lair,  and  generally  with  success. 


13 


104 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


THE    GNOO. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

HUNTING    THE    GNOO. 

MONG  modern  hunters  Mr.  Roualeyi 
Gordon  Gumming  deserves  the  high- 
est rank.  He  has  just  published  a 
work  entitled  "  Five  years  of  a 
Hunter's  Life  in  the  Far  Interior  of 
South  Africa,"  which  gives  the  most 
thrilling  and  entertaining  narratives 
ef  his  hunting  the  animals  of  that 
region,  such  as  the  Lion,  Elephant 
Giraffe,  Rh:noceros,  Hippopotamus 
and  the  various  kinds  of  antelopes  with  which  the  country  abounds 
To  indulge  in  his  favorite  pursuit  without  restraint  he  gave 
up  his  commission  in  the  British  army,  and  bought  a  train  of 
wagons  at  one  of  the  towns  near  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 


HUNTING  THE   GNOO.  195 


THE    HARTEBEEST. 


and  taking  with  him  a  supply  of  articles  of  trade  an  I  a  train 
of  Hottentots,  Bushmen,  and  Dutchmen,  he  set  off  into  the 
interior  on  a  trading  and  hunting  expedition.  This  was  repeated 
five  times  in  five  successive  years,  and  the  result  was  his  obtain- 
ing about  thirty  tons  of  trophies  of  the  chase,  which  he  carried  to 
London,  where  he  exhibited  them  as  proofs  of  the  truth  of  his 
story. 

We  shall  copy  freely  from  his  book.  The  reader  will  observe 
that  he  uses  certain  peculiar  terms,  such  as  trek,  to  travel  with 
wagons ;  inspan,  to  yoke  the  oxen  and  attach  them  to  the  wagons  ; 
outspan,  to  unyoke  and  loose  the  oxen  ;  spoor,  the  track  of  a  wild 
animal ;  &c. 

The  following  is  his  account  of  hunting  the  Gnoo  and  the 
Hartebeest,  and  of  the  peculiar  habits  of  the  African  Wild  Dogs. 

On  the  morning  of  the  12th  I  rode  northeast  with  attendants, 
and  after  proceeding  several  miles  through  an  open  country  we 
entered  a  beautiful  forest  of  cameeldorn  trees,  and  rode  along 
beneath  a  range  of  steep  rocky  hills.  The  country  gave  me  th« 
idea  of  extreme  antiquity,  where  the  hand  of  man  had  wrought 
no  change  since  the  Creation.  In  a  finely  wooded  broad  valley 
or  opening  among  the  hills,  we  fell  in  with  a  magnificent  herd  of 
about  sixty  blue  wildebeests.  As  they  cantered  across  the  grassy 
award  tossing  their  fierce-looking,  ponderous  he^ds,  their  shaggy 


196  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


manes  and  long,  black,  bushy  tails  streaming  in  the  breeze,  they 
presented  an  appearance  at  once  striking  and  imposing ;  and  to  a 
Granger  they  conveyed  rather  the  idea  of  buffaloes  than  anything 
belonging  to  the  antelope  tribe,  to  which,  indeed,  wildebeests,  both 
black  and  white,  are  but  remotely  allied,  notwithstanding  the 
classification  of  naturalists. 

About  midnight  on  the  16th,  weary  with  tossing  on  my  restless 
couch,  I  arose,  and  taking  my  two-grooved  rifle,  a  pillow,  and  a 
blanket,  I  held  for  my  shooting-hole  beside  the  fountain.  The 
remainder  of  the  night  was  very  cool,  with  a  southerly  breeze 
At  dawn  I  looked  from  my  hole,  and,  seeing  no  game  approach- 
ing, I  rolled  my  blanket  tight  around  me  and  tried  to  sleep.  In 
this  manner  I  had  lain  for  about  half  an  hour,  when  I  was  suddenly 
startled  by  a  large,  heavy  animal  galloping  past  within  six  feet  of 
me.  I  at  once  knew  that  it  must  be  either  some  beast  which  had 
oeen  coming  to  drink  and  had  got  my  wind,  or  one  hunted,  which, 
according  to  the  custom  of  deer  and  the  larger  antelopes,  had 
rushed  for  refuge  to  the  water  in  its  distress.  In  the  latter  con- 
jecture I  was  right ;  for,  on  cautiously  peeping  through  the  stones 
which  surrounded  my  hole,  I  had  the  pleasure  to  behold  a  fine 
bull  brindled  gnoo  dash  into  the  waters  of  the  fountain  within  forty 
yards  of  me,  and  stand  at  bay,  followed  by  four  tearing,  fierce- 
looking  wild  dogs.  All  the  four  had  their  heads  and  shoulders 
covered  with  blood,  and  looked  savage  in  the  extreme.  They 
seemed  quite  confident  of  success,  and  came  leisurely  up  to  the 
bull,  passing  within  a  few  yards  of  me,  their  eyes  glistening  with 
ferocious  glee. 

My  anxiety  to  possess  this  fine  old  bull,  and  also  a  specimen  of 
the  wild  dog,  prevented  my  waiting  to  see  more  of  the  fun.  I 
deliberated  for  a  few  seconds  whether  I  would  shoot  the  bull  first 
or  one  of  the  hounds,  and  ended  by  shooting  the  gnoo  and  the 
largest  hound  right  and  left.  The  bull,  on  receiving  the  ball, 
bounded  out  of  the  fountain;  but  suddenly  wheeling  about,  he 
re-entered  it,  and  staggering  violently  for  a  moment,  subsided  in 
its  v  aters.  The  hound  got  the  bullet  through  his  heart,  and 
springing  forvva.d  from  his  comrades,  instantly  measured  his 


HUNTING    THE   QNOO.  19" 


ength  upon  the  gravel.  I  then  quickly  reloaded  my  rifle,  lying 
on  my  side  ;  a  proceeding  which,  I  may  inform  those  who  have 
not  yet  tried  it,  is  rather  difficult  to  accomplish.  While  I  was 
thus  occupied  the  three  remaining  hounds  reluctantly  withdrew, 
and  described  a  semicircle  to  leeward  of  me  for  the  purpose  o 
obtaining  my  wind,  and  more  correctly  ascertaining  the  cause  of 
their  discomfiture.  Having  loa«led,  I  re-opened  my  fire,  and 
wounded  another,  when  they  all  made  off. 

I  could  not  help  feeling  very  reluctant  to  fire  at  the  jolly  hounds. 
The  whole  affair  remined  me  so  very  forcibly  of  many  gallant 
courses  I  had  enjoyed  in  the  Scottish  deer-forest  with  my  own 
noble  deer-hounds,  that  I  could  not  divest  myself  of  the  idea  that 
those  now  before  me  deserved  a  better  recompense  for  the  masterly 
manner  in  which  they  were  pursuing  their  desperate  game. 
One  hound,  in  particular,  bore  a  strong  expression  of  dear  old 
Factor  in  his  face,  a  trusty  stag-hound  bred  by  myself,  whose 
deeds,  though  not  renowned  in  verse  like  Ossian's  Oscar  and 
Luath,  were  perhaps  little  inferior  either  in  speed  or  prowess  to 
those  famed  in  ancient  song. 

Having  summoned  my  men,  and  with  considerable  difficulty 
dragged  the  ponderous  carcass  of  the  old  bull  out  of  the  water, 
we  found  that  he  had  been  cruelly  lacerated  by  the  hounds.  It 
appeared  to  me  that  they  had  endeavored  to  hamstring  him. 
His  hind  legs,  haunches,  and  belly  were  dreadfully  torn  ;  he  had 
lost  half  his  tail,  and  was  otherwise  mutilated.  Poor  old  bull ! 
I  could  not  help  commiserating  his  fate.  It  is  melancholy  to 
reflect  that,  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  nature,  such  scenes  of 
pain  must  ever  be  occurring;  one  species,  whether  inhabiting 
earth,  air,  or  ocean,  being  produced  to  become  the  prey  of  another. 
At  night  I  watched  the  water,  with  fairish  moonlight,  and  shot  a 
large  spotted  hyrena. 

I  continued  here  hunting  hartebeests  until  the  21st,  when  I 
inspanned  at  an  early  hour,  and  trekked  due  east  until  sundown, 
when  I  halted  near  a  small  fountain  of  fine  water,  having  per- 
formed a  march  of  about  twenty-five  miles.  Our  road  lay  through 
a  wuJ,  uninhabited  country,  producing  sweet  grass  in  a  bum  lance, 


19s 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


A    W^ILD   DOG. 

ftut  destitute  of  water.  On  the  morning  of  tne  22d,  having 
breakfasted,  I  road  southwest,  with  after  riders,  and  found  the 
game  abundant,  but  wild  and  shy,  having  been  recently  hunted 
by  Boers. 

The  wild  dogs,  or  «  wilde  honden,"  as  they  are  termed  by 
Dutch  Boers,  are  still  abundant  in  the  precincts  of  the  Capo 
colony,  and  are  met  with  in  great  numbers  throughout  the 
interior.  These  animals  invariably  hunt  together  in  large 
organized  packs,  varying  in  number  from  ten  to  sixty,  and  by 
their  extraordinary  powers  of  endurance,  and  mode  of  mutual 
assistance,  they  are  enabled  to  run  into  the  swiftest,  or  overcome 
the  largest  and  most  powerful  antelope.  I  have  never  heard  of 
their  attacking  the  buffalo,  and  I  believe  that  the  animal  pursued 
in  the  present  instance  is  the  largest  to  which  they  give  battle. 
Their  pace  is  a  long,  never-tiring  gallop,  and  in  the  chase  they 
relieve  one  another,  the  leading  hounds  felling  to  the  rear  when 
fatigued,  when  others,  who  have  been  husbanding  their  strength 
lome  up  and  relieve  them.  Having  succeeded  in  bringing  then 


HABITS    OF   THE   WILD   DOG.  199 


quarry  to  bay,  they  all  surround  him,  and  he  is  inr.  mediately 
dragged  to  the  ground,  and  in  a  few  minutes  torn  to  pieces  and 
consumed.  They  are  of  a  bold  and  daring  disposition,  and  do 
not  entertain  much  fear  o.f  man,  evincing  less  concern  on  his 
approach  than  any  other  carnivorous  animal  with  which  I  am 
acquainted.  On  disturbing  a  pack,  they  trot  leisurely  along 
before  the  intruder,  repeatedly  halting  and  looking  back  at  him. 
The  females  bring  forth  their  young  in  large  holes,  in  desolate 
open  plains.  These  burrows  are  connected  with  one  another 
under  ground.  When  a  troop  of  wild  dogs  frequenting  these 
holes  observe  a  man  approaching,  they  do  not,  as  might  be  sup- 
posed, take  shelter  in  the  holes,  but,  rather  trusting  to  their  speed, 
they  rush  forth,  even  though  the  intruder  should  be  close  upon 
them,  and  retreat  across  the  plain  ;  the  young  ones,  unless  very 
weak,  accompany  them.  The  devastation  occasioned  by  them 
among  the  flocks  of  the  pastoral  Dutch  Boers  is  inconceivable. 
It  constantly  happens,  that  when  the  careless  shepherds  leave 
their  charge  in  quest  of  honey  or  other  amusement,  a  pack  of 
these  marauders  comes  across  the  defenceless  flock.  A.  sangui- 
nary massacre  in  such  cases  invariably  ensues,  and  incredible 
numbers  of  sheep  are  killed  and  wounded.  The  voracious  pack, 
not  content  with  killing  as  many  as  they  can  eat,  follow  resolutely 
on,  tearing  and  mangling  all  that  come  within  their  reach.  Their 
voice  consists  of  three  different  kinds  of  cry,  each  being  used  on 
special  occasions.  One  of  these  cries  is  a  sharp,  angry  bark, 
usually  uttered  when  they  suddenly  behold  an  object  which  they 
cannot  make  out.  Another  resembles  a  number  of  monkeys  chat- 
tering together,  or  men  conversing  while  their  teeth  are  chattering 
violently  from  cold.  This  cry  is  emitted  at  night  when  large 
numbers  of  them  are  together,  and  they  are  excited  by  any  parti 
cular  occurrence,  such  as  being  barked  at  by  domestic  dogs 
The  third  cry,  and  the  one  most  commonly  uttered  by  them,  is 
a  sort  of  rallying  note  to  bring  the  various  members  of  the  pack 
together  when  they  have  been  scattered  in  following  several 
individuals  of  a  troop  of  antelopes.  It  is  a  peculiarly  soft,  melodi- 
ous cry,  yet,  nevertheless,  it  may  be  distinguished  at  a  great 


200 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


distance.  It  very  much  resembles  the  second  note  uttered  by  the 
tjuckoo  which  visits  England  during  the  summer  months,  and, 
when  heard  in  a  calm  morning  echoing  through  the  distant  wood- 
lands, it  has  a  very  pleasing  effect.  They  treat  all  domestic  dogs, 
however  large  and  fierce,  with  the  utmost  scorn,  waiting  to'^ceive 
their  attack,  and  then,  clannishly,  assisting  one  another,  they 
generally  rend  them  in  pieces.  The  domestic  dogs  most  cordially 
reciprocate  their  animosity,  and  abhor  their  very  voices,  at  what 
distance  soever  heard,  even  more  than  that  of  the  lion,  starting  to 
their  feet,  and  angrily  barking  for  hours.  This  interesting  though 
destructive  animal  seems  to  form  the  connecting  line  betweer  the 
wolf  and  tire  hyaena. 


OSTRICHES. 


HUNTING   THE    OSTRICH. 


203 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

HUNTIIV6  THE  OSTRICH,  THE  WILDEBEEST,  AND  THE  ORYX. 
OLLOWING  Mr.  Gumming  in  his  dash- 
ing  career,  we  next  extract  his  account 
of  the  mode  of  hunting  the  Ostrich 
among  the  Bushmen,  and  his  own  hunt- 
ing of  the  beautiful  oryx. 

A  favorite  method  adopted  by  the  wild 
Bushman  for  approaching  the  ostrich 
and  other  varieties  of  game,  is  to  clotho 
himself  in  the  skin  of  one  of  these  birds, 
in  which,  taSdng  care  of  the  wind,  he 
stalks  about  the  plain,  cunningly  imi- 
tating the  gait  and  motions  of  the  ostrich 
until  within  range,  when,  with  a  well-directed  poisoned  arrow 
from  his  tiny  bow,  he  can  generally  seal  the  fate  of  any  of  the 
ordinary  varieties  of  game.  These  insignificant-looking  arrows 
are  about  two  feet  six  inches  in  length  ;  they  consist  of  a  slender 
reed,  with  a  sharp  bone  head,  thoroughly  poisoned  with  a  compo 
sition,  of  which  the  principal  ingredients  are  obtained  sometimes 
from  a  succulent  herb,  having  thick  leaves,  yielding  a  poisonous 
milky  juice,  and  sometimes  from  the  jaws  of  snakes.  The  bow 
barely  exceeds  three  feet  in  length  ;  its  string  is  of  twisted  sinews 
When  a  Bushman  finds  an  ostrich's  nest,  ho  enscones  himself  in 
it,  ind  there  awaits  the  return  of  the  old  birds,  by  which  means 
ht  generally  secures  the  pair.  It  is  by  means  of  these  little  arrows 


£04 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


THE   ORYX. 

that  the  majority  of  the  fine  plumes  are  obtained  which  grace  the 
heads  of  the  fair  throughout  the  civilized  world. 

It  was  now  the  height  of  summer,  and  every  day  the  heat  of 
the  sun  was  terrific,  but  there  was  generally  a  breeze  of  wind, 
and  the  nights  were  cool.  Our  vley  was  daily  decreasing,  and 
I  saw  that,  unless  we  were  visited  by  rains,  it  would  soon  be 
no  more.  On  the  morning  of  the  22d  I  had  rather  an  absurd 
adventure  with  a  porcupine,  which  cost  me  my  pack-saddle,  the 
only  thing  of  the  sort  I  had  in  camp.  Long  before  day-break  I 
saddled  up,  and  rode  north  with  my  two  after-riders  and  a  spare 
horse  with  the  pack-saddle.  As  day  dawned  1  came  upon  a 
handsome  old  porcupine,  taking  his  morning  airing.  At  first 
sight  he  reminded  me  of  a  badger.  Unwilling  to  discharge  my 
rifle,  as  it  was  probable  that  we  were  in  the  vicinity  of  oryx,  I 
resolved  to  attempt  his  destruction  with  the  thick  end  of  my 
"  jambok,"  the  porcupine,  like  the  seal,  being  easi\y  killed  with  a 
blow  on  the  nose.  I  jumped  off'  my  horse,  and  after  a  short  race, 
in  which  I  tried  him  with  many  turns,  when  he  invariably  doubled 
back  between  my  legs,  giving  me  the  full  benefit  of  his  bustling 


HUNTING    THE    ORYX.  205 


quills,  I  succeeded  in  killing  him  with  the  jambok,  but  not  till  I 
had  received  several  wounds  in  my  hands.  My  boys  the  while 
sat  grinning  in  their  saddles,  enjoying  the  activity  of  their  "  baas." 

Having  cohered  him  with  bushes,  we  rode  on,  and  shortly  came 
jpon  an  immense,  compact  herd  of  several  thousand  migrating 
springboks,  which  were  exceedingly  tame,  and  in  the  middle  of 
them  stood  two  oryx.  These  we  managed  for  the  first  time  to 
drive  in  a  southerly  direction,  being  that  in  which  the  camp  lay ; 
and,  after  a  sharp  and  rather  circular  burst,  I  headed  the  finer  and 
bowled  her  over.  She  proved  to  be  a  young  cow  about  three 
years  old.  Having  disemboweled  her,  and  prepared  her  for  the 
pack-saddle  with  a  couteau-de-chasse,  by  splitting  the  brisket, 
passing  the  knife  along  the  gristly  bones  on  one  side  of  it,  and 
breaking  the  back  by  a  dexterous  touch  of  the  knife,  where  cer- 
tain ribs  well  known  to  the  hunter  join  the  vertebrae,  whereby  the 
animal  can  more  easily  be  balanced  on  the  pack-saddle,  we  suc- 
ceeded with  great  difficulty  in  placing  her  on  "  Sunday,"  and 
rode  slowly  for  the  place  where  we  had  left  the  porcupine.  We 
placed  him  on  the  oryx,  and  secured  him  with  a  rheim,  but  we 
had  not  proceeded  far  when  some  of  the  quills  pricked  the  steed, 
upon  which  he  commenced  bucking  and  prancing  in  the  most 
frantic  manner,  which  of  coarse  made  matters  ten  times  worse, 
causing  the  porcupine  to  beat  the  devil's  tattoo  on  his  back.  The 
gemsbok's  head,  also,  which,  being  a  poor  one,  I  had  not  cut  off 
unfortunately  got  adrifi,  and  kept  dangling  about  his  haunches, 
the  sharp  horns  striking  his  belly  at  every  spring.  He  broke 
loose  from  Jacob,  who  led  him,  and  set  off  across  the  country  at  a 
terrific  pace,  eventually  smashing  the  pack-saddle,  but  still  failing 
to  disengage  himself  from  the  gemsbok,  whose  hind  and  fore  feet, 
being  fastened  together,  slipped  round  under  his  belly,  impeding 
his  motions,  and  in  this  condition  he  was  eventually  secured, 
being  considerably  lacerated  about  the  haunches  by  the  horns  of 
the  oryx. 

Next  day  Cobus  and  I  fell  in  with  the  finest  bull  oryx  I  had  yet 
met,  which,  after  a  severe  chase,  we  rode  into  and  slew.  01 
some  evenings  previous  a  large  bright  comet  had  appeared  in  the 


206  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


southwest,  having  a  tearing,  fiery  tail,  which  .-tfange  meteor,  to 
.he  best  of  my  recollection,  shone  brightly  in  the  clear  firmament 
for  five  or  six  weeks.  We  lived  well,  but  lonelily.  My  camp 
abounded  with  every  delicacy — tongues,  brains,  marrow-bones, 
kidneys,  rich  soup,  with  the  most  delicious  venison  in  the  world,' 
&c.,  &c.,  and  a  constant  supply  of  ostrich  eggs.  The  25th  was 
cool  and  cloud}'-,  being  the  first  day  that  the  sky  had  been  overcast 
si'jce  I  had  left  the  Thebus  Flats. 

In  the  afternoon  I  resolved  to  ride  far  into  the  oryx  country, 
sleep  under  a  bush,  and  hunt  them  on  the  following  morning.  I 
accordingly  left  my  wagons  about  3  P.  M.,  with  my  two  after- 
riders  and  a  spare  horse,  and  rode  about  fifteen  miles  in  a  northerly 
course,  when  we  secured  our  horses  to  a  bush,  to  leeward  of  which 
we  slept.  On  my  way  thither  I  dismounted  on  an  arid  plain  to 
breathe  our  steeds  and  dig  up  some  bulbs  of  the  water- root*  for 
immediate  consumption,  my  thirst  being  very  severe  While 
cantering  along  we  passed  several  troops  of  hartebeests  and 
ostriches,  and  late  in  the  day  I  observed  a  small  troop  of  oryx. 

*  This  interesting  root,  which  has  doubtless  saved  many  from  dying  of  thirst, 
'is  met  with  throughout  the  most  parched  plains  of  tlv)  Karroo.  It  is  a  large  oval 
bulb,  varying  from  six  to  ten  inches  in  diameter,  and  is  of  an  extremely  juicy 
consistence,  with  rather  an  insipid  flavor.  It  is  protected  by  a  thin  brown  skin, 
which  is  easily  removed  with  the  back  of  a  knife.  It  has  small,  insignificant 
narrow  leaves,  with  litjtle  black  dots  on  them,  which  are  not  easily  detected  by 
an  inexperienced  eye.  The  ground  round  it  is  so  baked  with  the  sun  that  it  has 
to  be  dug  out  with  a  knife.  The  top  of  the  bulb  is  discovered  about  eight  or  nine 
inches  from  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  the  earth  all  round  it  must  then  be 
carefully  removed.  A  knowledge  ot  this  plant  is  invaluable  to  him  whose  avoca- 
tions lead  him  into  these  desolate  region*.  Throughout  the  whole  extent  of  the 
great  Kalahari  desert,  and  the  vast  tract  of  country  adjoining  thereto,  an  immense 
variety  of  bulbs  and  roots  of  this  juicy  description  succeed  one  another  monthly, 
there  being  hardly  a  season  in  the  year  at  which  the  poor  Bakalahari,  provided 
with  a  sharp-pointed  stick  hardened  in  the  fire,  can  not  obtain  a  meal,  being  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  each  and  all  the  herbs  and  roots  which  a  bountiful  hand 
has  provided  for  his  sustenance.  There  are  also  several  succulent  plants,  having 
thick,  juicy  leaves,  which  in  like  manner  answer  the  purpose  of  food  and  drink. 

Above  all, 'a  species  of  bitter  water-melon  is  thickly  scattered  over  the  entire 
surface  of  the  known  parts  of  the  great  Kalahari  desert.  These  often  supply  the 
place  of  food  and  water  to  the  wild  inhabitants  of  those  remote  regions,  and  it  ia 
stated  by  the  Bakalahari  that  these  melons  improve  in  flavor  as  they  penetrate 
further  to  the  west.  Most  of  these  roots  are  much  eaten  by  the  gemsboks,  which 
ara  led  by  instinct  to  root  them  out.  The  elephants  also,  apprised  by  their  acute 
*tnse  of  smell  of  their  position,  feed  upon  them,  and  whole  tracts  may  be  seen 
plowed  uo  by  the  tusks  of  these  sagacious  animals,  in  quest  of  them 


HUNTING   THE   SPRINGBOK. 


207 


THE    SPRINGBOK. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

* 

HUNTING   THE   SPRINGBOK  AND   THE   QUAGGA. 

NDOUBTEDLY,  Mr.  Cum- 
mings'  descriptions  of  hunting 
scenes  in  Africa  are  among  the 
liveliest,  freshest,  and  most  gra- 
phic "incidents  of  travel"  which 
have  yet  appeared.  The  fol- 
lowing is  his  account  of  spring- 
bok and  quagga  hunting. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th, 
Stryciom  and  I  having  resolved 
over  night  to  go  in  quest  of  a 

of  ostriches  which  his  Hottentot  reported,  frequenting  the 
plains  immediately  adjacent  to  the  Thebus  Mountain,  we  started 
our  Hottentots  two  hours  before  the  dawn  of  day ;  and  after  an 
early  breakfast  we  saddled  up,  and  rode  direct  for  the  Thebas 
Mountain.  This  remarkable  mountain,  which  I  shall  ever  remem- 
ber as  ihe  leading  feature  on  the  plains  where  I  first  really  com- 
menced my  African  hunting,  is  of  peculiar  shape,  resembling  a 


208  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


cone  depressed  at  the  apex,  and  surmounted  by  a  round  tower. 
[t  is  also  remarkable  as  being  considerably  higher  tian  the  sur- 
rounding mountains,  with  which  the  plains  are  bounded  and  inter- 
sected. As  we  rode  along,  a  balmy  freshness  pervaded  the 
morning  air.  We  passed  through  herds  of  thousands  of  spring- 
boks, with  small  herds  of  wildebeest  scattered  among  them.  I  fired 
two  or  three  very  long  shots  without  success.  Strydom,  however, 
was  more  fortunate.  He  fired  into  a  herd  of  about  a  hundred 
bucks  at  three  hundred  yards,  and  hit  one  fine  old  buck  right  in 
the  middle  of  the  forehead,  the  ball  passing  clean  through  his 
ekull.  We  hid  him  in  a  hole  in  the  ground,  and  covered  him 
with  bushes,  and  then  rode  en  to  our  Hottentots,  whom  we  found 
waiting  beside  a  small  fountain  in  a  pass  formed  by  a' wide  gap  in 
a  low  range  of  hills,  situated  between  two  extensive  plains  which 
were  thickly  covered  with  game.  I  took  up  my  position  in  a 
bush  of  rushes  in  the  middle  of  the  pass,  and  remained  there  for 
upward  of  eight  hours,  during  which  our  boys  were  supposed  to 
be  endeavoring  to  drive  the  game  toward  us. 

The  Boer  took  up  the  best  pass  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  mj 
right.  Before  we  had  been  an  hour  at  our  passes,  the  boys  drove 
up  four  beautiful  ostriches,  which  came  and  stood  within  fifty 
yards  of  Strydom,  but,  alas  !  he  was  asleep.  About  this  time  I 
was  busy  trying  to  remembei  and  practice  a  childish  amusement 
which  once  delighted  me  as  much  as  rifle-shooting — namely, 
making  a  cap  of  rushes,  when,  on  suddenly  lifting  up  my  eyes,  I 
saw  standing  within  eighty  yards  of  me  about  a  dozen  beautiful 
springboks,  which  were  coming  up  to  the  pass  behind  me.  I 
snatched  up  my  rifle,  and,  lying  flat  on  my  breast,  sent  a  bullet 
through  the  best  buck  in  the  troop,  smashing  his  shoulder.  He 
ran  about  fifty  yards,  and  fell  dead.  I  unfortunately  left  him 
lying  exposed  in  the  path,  the  consequence  of  which  was  that 
three  other  troops  of  springboks,  which  were  coming  up  as  he 
had  come,  were  turned  to  the  right  about  by  his  carcase. 

It  was  amusing  to  see  the  birds  and  beasts  of  prey  assembling 
to  dispute  the  carcase  with  me.  First  came  the  common  black  and 
white  carrion  crow,  then  the  vultures  ;  the  jackals  knew  the  cry  of 


HUNTING    TIIE    QUAGGA.  209 

tiie  vultures,  and  they  too  came  sneaking  from  their  hiding  places 
in  the  rocks  and  holes  of  the  ant-bear  in  the  plains  to  share  in  the 
feast,  while  I  was  obliged  to  remain  a  quiet  spectator,  not  daring 
to  move,  as  the  game  was  now  in  herds  on  every  side  of  me,  and 
I  expected  to  see  ostriches  every  moment.  Presently  a  herd  of 
wildebeest  came  thundering  down  upon  me,  and  passed  within 
shot.  I  put  a  bullet  into  one  of  these,  too  far  behind  the  shoulder 
which,  as  is  always  the  case  with  deer  and  antelopes,  did  not 
seem  to  affect  him  in  the  slightest  degree,  fn  the  afternoon  we 
altered  our  positions,. and  sent  the  boys  to  drive  the  plain  beside 
which  I  had  been  sitting  all  day.  The  quantity  of  bucks  which 
were  now  before  our  eyes  beat  all  computation.  The  plain  ex- 
tended, without  a  break,  until  the  eye  could  not  discern  an-'  object 
smaller  than  a  castle.  Throughout  the  whole  of  this  extent  were 
herds  of  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  springboks,  inter- 
spersed with  troops  of  wildebeest.  The  boys  sent  us  one  herd 
of  about  three  hundred  springboks,  into  which  Strydom  let  fly  at 
about  three  hundred  yards,  and  turned  them  and  all  the  rest. 

It  was  now  late  in  the  day,  so  we  made  for  home,  taking  up  the 
buck  which  Strydom  had  shot  in  the  morning.  As  we  cantered 
along  the  flats,  Strydom,  tempted  by  a  herd  of  springboks,  which 
were  drawn  up  together  in  a  compact  body,  jumped  off  his  horse, 
and,  giving  his  ivory  sight  an  elevation  of  several  feet,  let  drive  at 
them,  the  distance  being  about  five  hundred  yards.  As  the  troop 
bounded  away,  we  could  distinguish  a  light-colored  object  lying  in 
the  short  heath,  which  he  pronounced  to  be  a  springbok,  and  on 
going  up  we  found  one  fine  old  doe  lying  dead,  shot  through  the 
spine.  This  day,  and  every  day  since  I  arrived  at  these  flats,  I 
was  astonished  at  the  number  of  skeletons  and  well-bleached  skulls 
with  which  the  plains  were  cohered.  Thousands  of  skulls  of 
springbok  and  wildebeest  were  strewed  around  wherever  the 
hunter  turned  his  eye.  The  sun  was  extremely  powerful  all  day 
but,  being  intent  on  the  sport,  I  did  not  feel  it  until  I  found  mj 
legs  burned  ;  my  dress,  as  usual,  was  the  kilt,  with  a  gray  stalk 
mg-cap.  On  reaching  home  the  following  day,  a  large  party  of 
natives,  belonging  to  the  chief  Moshesh,  arrived  on  the  farm. 

14 


210 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


These  poor  men  were  travelling  in  quest  of  employment.  Num 
bers  of  natives  annually  visit  the  colony,  and  work  for  the  Boers, 
making  stone  enclosures  for  their  cattle,  and  large  dams  or  em- 
bankments across  little  streams  in  the  mouths  of  valleys,  for  the 
purpose  of  collecting  water  in  the  rainy  season  for  the  supply  of 
their  flocks  and  herds  during  the  protracted  droughts  of  summer, 
They  are  paid  for  their  labor  with  young  cows  or  she-goats.  The 
recent  rains  having  washed  away  the  embankment  of  a  dam 
situated  in  a  distant  range  of  hills,  on  the  borders  of-  the  farm, 
Strydom  engaged  these  men  to  repair  it.  The  vicinity  of  the  dam 
being  a  favorite  haunt  for  quaggas,  and  it  being  necessary  that 
Strydom  should  go  there  on  the  morrow,  we  resolved  to  hunt  in 
the  neighboring  district,  in  which  were  situated  some  high  and 
rugged  hills.  Accordingly,  next  day,  we  sallied  forth,  and  I 
ascended  to  one  of  their  highest  pinnacles,  where  I  managed  tc 
shoot  a  rhode-raebok.  Joining  Strydom  shortly  afterward,  we 
Hunted  over  another  range  of  the  same  hills,  where  we  fell  ir 
with  three  quaggas  and  other  game. 


THE   QCAOOA, 


HUNTING    THE    AFRICAN   BUFFALO. 


21* 


THE    PALLAH. 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

HUNTING   THE   AFRICAN   BUFFALO   AND   PALLAH.  . 

MARLY  on  the  4th,  says  Mr.  Gumming,  we  inspanned  ani 
continued  our  march  for  Booby,  a  large  party  of  savages  still 
following  the  wagons.  Before  proceeding  far  I  was  tempted  by 
the  beautiful  appearance  of  the  country  to  saddle  horses  to  hunt 
in  the  mountains  westward  of  my  course.  I  directed  the  wagcns 
to  proceed  a  few  miles  under  guidance  of  the  natives,  and  there 
await  my  arrival.  I  was  accompanied  by  Isaac,  who  was  mounted 
on  Old  Gray,  and  carried  my  clumsy  Dutch  rifle  of  six  to  the  pound 
Two  Bechuanas  followed  us,  leading  four  of  my  dogs.  Having 
crossed  a  well-wooded  strath,  we  reached  a  little  crystal  river 
whose  margin  was  trampled  down  with  the  spoor  of  a  great 
variety  of  heavy  game,  but  especially  of  buffalo  and  rhinoceros 
We  took  up  the  spoor  of  a  troop  of  buffaloes,  which  we  followed 


214  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


along  a  path  made  by  the  heavy  beasts  of  the  forest  th  rough  a 
neck  in  the  hills ;  and,  emerging  from  the  thicket,  we  beheld,  on 
the  other  side  of  a  valley  which  had  .opened  upon  us,  a  herd  of 
about  ten  huge  bull  buffaloes.  These  I 'attempted  to  stalk,  but  was 
defeated  by  a  large  herd  of  zebras,  which,  getting  our  wind, 
charged  past  and  started  the  buffaloes.  I  ordered  the  Bechuanas 
to  release  the  dogs ;  and  spurring  Colesberg,  which  I  rode  for  the 
first  time  since  the  affair  with  the  lioness,  I  gave  chase.  The 
buffaloes  crossed  the  valley  in  front  of  me,  and  made  for  a  succes- 
sion of  dense  thickets  in  the  hills  to  the  northward.  As  they 
crossed  the  valley,  by  riding  hard  I  obtained  a  broadside  shot  at 
the  last  bull,  and  fired  both  barrels  into  him.  He,  however,  con- 
tinued his  course,  but  I  presently  separated  him,  along  with  two 
other  bulls,  from  the  troop.  My  rifle  being  a  two-grooved,  which 
is  hard  to  load,  1  was  unable  to  do  so  on  horseback,  and  followed 
with  it  empty,  in  the  hope  of  bringing  them  to  bay.  In  passing 
through  a  grove  of  thorny  trees  I  lost  sight  of  the  wounded  buf- 
falo ;  he  had  turned  short  and  doubled  back,  a  common  practice 
with  them  when  wounded.  After  following  the  other  two  at  a 
hard  gallop  for  about  two  miles,  I  was  riding  within  five  yardj>  of 
their  huge  broad  sterns.  They  exhaled  a  strong  bovine,  smell, 
which  came  hot  in  my  face.  I  expeced  every  minute  that  they 
would  come  to  bay,  and  give  me  time  to  load ;  but  this  they  did 
not  seem  disposed  to  do.  At  length,  finding  I.  had  the  speed  of 
them,  I  increased  my  pace;  and  going  ahead,  I  placed  myself 
light  before  the  finest  bull,  thus  expecting  to  force  him  to  stand  at 
bay  ;  upon  which  he  instantly  charged  me  with  a  low  roar,  very 
similar  to  the  voice  of  a  lion.  Colesburg  neatly  avoided  the 
charge,  and  the  bull  resumed  his  northward  course.  We  now 
entered  on  rocky  ground,  and  the  forest  became  more  dense  as 
we  proceeded.  The  buffaloes  were-  evidently  making  for  some 
strong  retreat.  I,  however,  managed  with  much  difficulty  to 
hold  them  in  view,  following  as  best  I  could  through  thorny 
thickets.  Isaac  rode  some  hundred  yards  behind,  and  kept  shout- 
ing to  me  to  drop  the  pursuit,  or  I  should  be  killed.  At  last  the 
buffaloes  suddenly  pulled  up,  and  stood  at  bay  in  a  thicket  within 


HUNTING    THE    PALLAH.  215 


twenty  yards  of  me.  Springing  from  my  horse,  I  hastily  loaded 
my  two-grooved  rifle,  which  I  had  scarcely  completed  when  Isaac 
rode  up  and  inquired  what  had  become  of  the  buffaloes,  litila 
dreaming  that  they  were  standing  within  twenty  yards  of  him.  I 
answered  by  pointing  my  rifle  across  his  horse's  nose,  and  letting 
fly  sharp  right  and  left  at  the  two  buffaloes.  A  headlong  charge, 
accompanied  by  a  muffled  roar,  was  the  result.  In  an  instant  I 
was  round  a  clump  of  tangled  thorn  trees  ;  but  Isa,ac,  by  'he 
violence  of  his  efforts  to  get  his  horse  in  motion,  lost  his  balance 
and  at  the  same  instant,  his  girths  giving  way,  himself,  his  saddle, 
and  big  Dutch  rifle,  all  came  to  the  ground  together,  with  a  heavy 
crash,  right  in  the  path  of  the  infuriated  buffaloes.  Two  of  the 
Jogs,  which  had  fortunately  that  moment  joined  us,  met  them  in 
their  charge,  and,  by  diverting  their  attention,  probably  saved 
Isaac  from  instant  destruction.  The  buffaloes  now  took  up  another 
position  in  un  adjoining  thicket.  They  were  both  badly  wounded 
blotches  and  pools  of  blood  marking  the  ground  where  they  had 
stood.  The  dogs  rendered  me  assistance  by  taking  up  their  atten- 
tion, and  in  a  few  minutes  these  two  noble  bulls  breathed  their 
last  beneath  the  shade  of  a  mimosa  grove.  Each  of  them,  in 
dying,  repeatedly  uttered  a  very  striking,  low,  deep  moan.  This 
I  subsequently  ascertained  'the  buffalo  invariably  utters  When  in 
the  act  of  expiring. 

On  going  up  to  them,  I  was  astonished  to  behold  their  size  and 
powerful  appearance.  Their  horns  reminded  me  of  the  rugged 
trunk  of  an  oak  tree.  Each  horn  was  upward  of  a  foot  in  breadth 
at  the  base,  and  together  they  effectually  protected  the  skull  with 
a  massive  and  impenetrable  shield.  The  horns,  descending,  and 
spreading  out  horizontally,  completely  overshadowed  the  animal's 
eyes,  imparting  to  him  a  look  the  most  ferocious  and  sinister  that 
can  be  imagined.  On  my  way  to  the  wagons  I  shot  a  stag 
Bassayby,  and  while  I  was  engaged  in  removing  his  head  a  troop 
of  about  thirty  doe  pallahs  cantered  past  me,  followed  by  one 
princely  old  buck.  Snatching  p  my  rifle,  I  made  a  fine  shot 
iqd  rolled  him  over  in  the  gras,./. 


216 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


TUB    FALCON. 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

HUNTING   AND    HAWKING    IN   PERSIA. 

JOHN  MALCOLM,  in    his   deiightfu 
Sketches  of  Persia,  has  given  some  very 
lively  descriptions  of  sporting  scenes  in 
that  romantic  country.    In  order  to  under- 
stand the  following  extract  from  his  book, 
jf^.nc&affjL      l^e  reader  must  recollect  that  Sir  John 
—  -*'£ss^^liy    y    himself  is  the  Elchee  or  ambassador  from 
England,  of  whom  he  speaks  as  of  another  person. 

We  were  kept  several  weeks  at  Abusheher ;  and  among  other 
amusements  by  which  we  beguiled  the  tedium  of  our  sojourn  at 
this  dull  sea-port,  were  those  of  hunting  and  hawking;  which, 
according  to  the  Nimrods  of  our  party,  are  nowhere  found  in 
greater  perfection :  but  as  the  mode  of  killing  the  game  differs 
essentially  from  that  of  other  countries.  I  shall  describe  it,  that 
such  sportsmen  as  can  read  may  judge  of  its  merits. 

The  huntsmen  proceed  to  a  large  plain,  or  rather  desert,  near 
ihe  sea-side :  they  have  hawks  and  greyhounds ;  the  former 
carried  in  the  usual  manner,  on  the  hand  of  the  huntsman ;  the 


HUNTLNU    AND    HAWKING    IN    PERSIA. 


•   ,  PERSIAN    GREYHOUND. 

latter  led  in  a  leash  by  a  horseman,  generally  the  same  who  carries 
the  hawk.  When  the  antelope  is  seen,  they  endeavor  to  get  as 
near  as  possible  ;  but  the  animal,  the  moment  it  observes  them, 
goes  off  at  a  rate  that  seems  swifter  than  the  wind ;  the  horsemen 
are  instantly  at  full  speed,  having  slipped  the  dogs.  If  it  is  a 
single  deer,  they  at  the  time  fly  the  hawks ;  but  if  a  herd,  they 
wait  till  the  dogs  have  fixed  on  a  particular  antelope.  The  hawks, 
skimming  along  near  the  ground,  soon  reach  the  deer,  at  whose 
head  they  pounce  in  succession,  and  sometimes  with  a  violence 
that  knocks  it  over.  At  all  events,  they  confuse  the  animal  so 
much  as  to  stop  its  speed  in  such  a  degree  that  the  dogs  can  come 
up ;  and  in  an  instant  men,  horses,  dogs,  and  hawks,  surround 
the  unfortunate  deer,  against  which  their  united  efforts  have  been 
combined.  The  part  of  the  chase  that  surprised  me  most  was 
the  extraordinary  combination  of  the  hawks  and  the  dogs,  which 
throughout  seemed  to  look  to  each  other  for  aid.  This,  I  was 
told,  was  the  result  of  long  and  skilful  training. 

The  antelope  is  supposed  to  be  the  fleetest  quadruped  on  earth, 
and  tlje  rapidity  of  the  first  burst  of  the  chase  I  have  described  is 
astonishing.  The  run  seldom  exceeds  three  qr  four  miles,  and 
often  it  is  not  half  so  much.  A  fawn  is  an  easy  victory ;  the  doe 
often  runs  a  good  chase,  and  the  buck  is  seldom  taken.  The 
Arabs  are,  indeed,  afraid  to  fly  their  hawks  at  the  latter,  as  these 
one  birds,  in  pouncing,  frequently  impale  themselves  on  its  sharp 
noins. 

The  hawks  used  in  this  sport  are  of  a  species  that  1  have  never 


218 


HUNTING     ADVENTURER. 


PERSIAN    ANTELOPE. 

•een  in  any  other  country.     This  breed,  which  is  c.-.lled  Cherxk, 
is  not  large,  but  of  great  beauty  and  symmetry. 

Another  mode  of  running  down  the  antelope  is  practised  here, 
and  still  more  in  the  interior  of  Persia.  Persons  of  the  highes* 
rank  lead  their  own  greyhounds  in  a  long  silken  leash,  which 
passes  through  the  collar,  and  is  ready  to  slip  the  moment  the 
huntsman'  chooses.  The  well-trained  dog  goes  alongside  the 
horse,  and  keeps  clear  of  him  when  at  full  speed,  and  in  all  kinds 
of  country.  When  a  herd  of  antelopes  is  seen,  a  consultation  is 
held,  and  the  most  experienced  determine  the  point  towards  which 
they  are  to  be  driven  The  field  (as  an  English  sportsman  would 
term  it)  then  disperse,  and  while  some  drive  the  herd  in  the  de- 
Bired  direction,  those  with  the  dogs  take  their  post  on  the  same 
line,  at  the  distance  of  about  a  mile  from  each  other ;  one  of  the 
worst  dogs  is  then  slipped  at  the  herd,  and  from  the  moment  he 
singles  out  an  antelope  the  whole  body  are  in  motion.  The  object 
of  the  horsemen  who  have  greyhounds  is  to  intercept  its  course, 
and  to  slip  fresh  "dogs,  in  succession,  at  the  fatigued  animal.  In 
rare  instances  the  second  dog  kills.  It  is  generally  the  third  or 
fourth  ;  ana  even  these,  when  the  deer  is  strong,  and  the  grouna 
Catror<vble.  often  fail.  This  sport,  which  is  very  exhilarating,  wat 


HUNTING   AND   HAWKING   IN   PERSIA.  219 


the  delight  of  the  late  King  of  Persia,  Aga  Mahomed  Khan, 
whose  taste  is  inherited  by  the  present  Sovereign. 

The  novelty  of  these  amusements  interested  me,  and  I  was 
pleased,  on  accompanying  a  party  to  a  village,  about  twenty  miles 
from  Abusheher,  to  see  a  species  of  hawking,  peculiar,  I  believe, 
to  the  sandy  plains  of  Persia,  on  which  the  Hubara,*  a  noble 
species  of  bustard,  is  found  on  almost  bare  plains,  where  it  has  no 
shelter  but  a  small  shrub  called  geetuck.  When  we  went  in 
quest  of  them  we  had  a  party  of  about  twenty,  all  well  mounted. 
Two  kinds  of  hawks  are  necessary  for  this  sport ;  the  first,  the 
cherkh  (the  same  which  is  flown  at  the  antelope),  attacks  them  on 
the  ground,  but  will  not  follow  them  on  the  wing ;  for  this  reason, 
tne  Bhyree,  a  hawk  well  known  in  India,  is  flown  the  moment  the 
hubara  rises. 

As  we  rode  along  in  an  extended  line,  the  men  who  carried  the 
cherkhs  every  now  and  then  unhooded  and  held  them  up,  that 
they  might  look  over  the  plain.  The  first  hubara  we  found 
afforded  us  a  proof  of  the  astonishing  quickness  of  sight  of  one  of 
the  hawks ;  he  fluttered  to  be  loose,  and  the  man  who  held  him 
gave  a  whoop,  as  he  threw  him  ofT  his  hand,  and  set  off"  at  full 
speed.  We  all  did  the  same.  At  first  we  only  saw  our  hawk 
skimming  over  the  plain,  but  soon  perceived,  at  a  distance  of 
more  than  a  mile,  the  beautiful  speckled  hubara,  with  his  head 
erect,  and  wings  outspread,  running  forward  to  meet  his  adver- 
sary. The  cherkh  made  several  unsuccessful  pounces,  which 
were  either  evaded  or  repelled  by  the  beak  or  wings  of  the'  hubara, 
which  at  last  found  an  opportunity  of  rising,  when  a  bhyree  was 
instantly  flown,  and  the  whole  party  were  again  at  full  gallop. 
We  had  a  flight  of  more  than  a  mile,  when  the  hubara  alighted, 
and  was  killed  by  another  cherkh,  who  attacked  him  on  the 
ground.  This  bird  weighed  ten  pounds.  We  killed  several 

*  The  Hubara  usually  weighs  from  seven  to  eleven  pounds.  On  its  head  is  a 
tuft  of  black  and  white  feathers;  the  back  of  the  head  and  ueck  are  spotted  black; 
the  side  of  the  head  and  throat  are  whit«,  as  well  as  the  under  part  of  the  body ; 
the  breast  is  shite-colored  ;  the  feathers  of  the  wing  are  greenish-brown,  speckled 
with  black ;  the  bill  of  a  very  dark-grey  ;  nnd  on  each  side  of  the  neck  is  a  large 
and  handsome  tuft  of  feathers,  black  and  white  alternately. 


220 


HUNTING    ADVENTUHRS. 


FOXHOUND. 


others,  but  were  not  always  successful,  having  seen  our  hawks 
twice  completely  beaten  during  the  two  days  we  followed  fVs  fine 
sport. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  country  over  which  we  hunted  are  all 
Arabs.  They  live,  like  their  brethren  in  other  parts,  almost 
entirely  on  camels'  milk  and  dates.  Their  care  appears  limited 
to  the  preservation  of  the  animal  and  the  propagation  of  the  tree, 
which  yield  what  they  account  the  best  of  this  world's  luxuries ; 
and  these  not  only  furnish  this  lively  race  of  men  with  food,  but 
with  almost  all  the  metaphors  in  which  their  language  abounds. 
Of  this  we  had  an  amusing  instance  :  amongst  others  who  accom- 
panied the  Elchee  on  this  sporting  expedition  was  a  young  officer, 
who  measured  six  feet  seven  inches  :  he,  like  others,  had  lain 
down  to  take  an  hour's  repose,  between  our  morning  and  evening 
hunt.  An  old  Arab,  who  was  desired  to  awake  him,  smiling, 
said  to  his  servant,  (e  Entreat  your  date  tree  to  rise."  We  hnd  a 
hearty  laugh  at  our  friend,  who  was  not  reconciled  to  this  com- 
parison of  his  commanding  stature  to  the  pride  of  the  desert. 

If  we  were  amused  by  the  field-diversions  of  -the  Persians  and 
Arabs,  they  were  equally  so  with  our  mode  of  hunting.  The 
Elchee  had  brought  a  few  couples  of  English  fox-hounds,  intend- 
ing them  as  a  present  to  the  heir-apparent,  Abbas  Meerza.  With 
this  small  pack  we  had  several  excellent  runs.  One  morning  we 
killed  a  fox,  after  a  very  hard  chase ;  and  while  the  rest  of  the 


HUNTING    A>TD    IIAWKTNO    TN    PERSIA. 


221 


party  « are  exulting  in  their  success,  cutting  off  poor  reynard'a 
brush,  praising  the  hounds,  adding  some  two  feet  to  a  wall  theii 
horses  had  cleared,  laughing  at  those  who  had  got  tumbles,  and 
recounting  many  a  hair-breadth  escape,  I  was  entertained  by 
listening  to  an  Arab  peasant,-who,  with  animate.d  gestures,  wai 
narrating  to  a  group  of  his  countrymen  all  he  had  seen  of  this 
noble  hunt.  "There  went  the  fox,''  said  he,  pointing  with  a 
crooked  stick  to  a  clump  of  date  trees  ;  "  there  he  went  at  a  great 
rate  ;  I  hallooed,  and  hallooed,  but  nobody  heard  me,  and  I  thought 
he  must  get  away  ;  but  when  he  was  quite  out  of  sight,  up  came 
a  large  spotted  dog,  and  then  another  and  another ;  they  all  had 
their  noses  on  the  ground,  and  gave  tongue,  whow,  whow,  whow, 
so  loud  that  I  was  frightened  : — away  went  these  devils,  who 
soon  found  the  poor  animal ;  after  them  galloped  the  Faringees*, 
shouting  and  trying  to  make  a  noise  louder  than  the  dogs :  no 
wonder  they  killed  the  fox  among  them ;  but  it  is  certainly  fine 
sport.  Our  Shaikh  has  no  dogs  like  thesr."  This  last  remark 

•  Faringee,  wftich  is  a  corruption  of  Frank,  is  the  name  given  to  an  Ewopean 
•w  all  Asia. 


2?2  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


was  assented  w  by  all  present,  and  the  possession  of  a  breed  of 
dogs,  which  their  Shaikh  had  not,  added  not  a  little,  m  the  eyes 

of  those  peasants,  to  the  character  of  the  mission. 

#***** 

Some  gentlemen  had  accompanied  the  mission  whose  chief 
object  was  to  see  Persepolis  and  other  remains  of  ancient  splen- 
dor. These  motives  were  unintelligible  to  the  Persians.  The 
day  we  left  the  ruins,  Aga  Meer,  as  we  were  riding  together,  ex- 
pressed his  surprise  at  men  devoting  their  time  to  such  pursuits. 
"  What  can  be  the  use,"  said  he,  "  of  travelling  so  far  and  running 
so  many  risks  to  look  at  ruined  houses  and  palaces,  when  they 
might  stay  so  comfortably  at  home  ?"  I  replied  with  some  feeling 
of  contempt  for  my  friend's  love  of  quiet,  "  If  the  state  of  a  man's 
circumstances,  or  that  of  his  country,  does  not  find  him  work,  he 
must  find  it  for  himself,  or  go  to  sleep  and  be  good  for  nothing. 
Antiquaries,"  I  continued,  "  to  whcse  praiseworthy  researches 
you  allude,  by  directing,  through  their  labors  and  talents,  our 
attention  to  the  great  names  and  magnificent  monuments  of  former 
days,  aid  in  improving  the  sentiments  and  taste  of  a  nation.  Be- 
sides, though  no  antiquary  myself,  I  must  ever  admire  a  study 
which  carries  man  beyond  self.  I  love  those  elevating  thoughts 
that  lead  me  to  dwell  with  delight  on  the  past,  and  to  look  forward 
with  happy  anticipations  to  the  future.  We  are  told  by  some 
that  such  feelings  are  mere  illusions,  and  the  cold,  practical  phi- 
losopher may,  on  the  ground  of  their  inutility,  desire  to  remove 
them  from  men's  minds,  to  make  way  for  his  own  machinery  ; 
but  he  could  as  soon  argue  me  out  of  my  existence  as  take  from 
me  the  internal  proof  which  such  feelings  convey,  both  as  to  my 
origin  and  destination." 

"  There  goes  a  Goor-kher''  (wild  ass),  said  Mahomed  Beg,  the 
Jelloodar,*  who  was  riding  close  behind ;  and  away  he  galloped. 
Away  I  galloped  also,  leaving  unfinished  one  of  the  finest  speeches 
about  the  past  and  the  future  that  was  ever  commenced. 

We  pursued  the  goor-kher  several  miles,  when  we  gave  up  the 
*hase  as  hopeless.  On  our  return,  however,  we  found  plenty  ol 

*  Persian  groom. 


HUNTING  AND  HAWKING  IN  PERSIA.  223 


other  game  ;  five  hares  were  killed  by  our  dogs  and  three  by 
hawks.  When  at  Sfr'raz,  the  Elchee  had  received  a  present  of  a 
very  fine  Shah-Baz,  or  ioyal  falcon.  Before  going  out  I  had  been 
amused  at  seeing  Nutee  Beg,  our  head  falconer,  a  man  of  great 
experience  in  his  department,  put  upon  this  bird  a  pair  of  leathers, 
which  he  fitted  to  its  thighs  with  as  much  care  as  if  he  had  been 
the  tailor  of  a  fashionable  horseman.  I  inquired  the  reason  of  so 
unusual  a  proceeding.  "  You  will  learn  that,"  said  the  conse- 
quential master  of  the  hawks,  "  when  you  see  our  sport :"  and  I 
was  convinced,  at  the  period  he  predicted,  of  the  old  fellow's 
knowledge  of  his  business. 

The  first  hare  seized  by  the  falcon  was  very  strong,  and  the 
ground  rough.  While  the  bird  kept  the  claws  of  one  foot  fastened 
in  the  back  of  its  prey,  the  other  was  dragged  along  the  ground 
till  it  had  an  opportunity  to  lay  hold  of  a  tuft  of  grass,  by  which 
it  was  enabled  to  stop  the  course  of  the  hare,  whose  efforts  to' 
escape,  I  do  think,  would  have  torn  the  hawk  asunder,  if  it  had 
not  been  provided  with  the  leathern  defences  which  have  been 
mentioned. 

The  next  time  the  falcon  was  flown,  gave  us  a  proof  of  that 
extraordinary  courage  which  its  whole  appearance,  and  par- 
ticularly its  eye,  denoted.  It  had  stopped  and  quite  disabled  the 
second  hare  by  the  first  pounce,  when  -two  greyhounds,  which 
had  been  slipped  by  mistake,  came  up,  and  endeavored  to  seize  it. 
They  were,  however,  repulsed  by  the  falcon,  whose  boldness  and 
celerity  in  attacking  the  dogs  and  securing  its  prey  excited  our 
admiration  and  astonishment. 

We  had  some  excellent  sport  with  smaller  hawks  and  part- 
ridges. I  was  particularly  pleased  with  one  bird  which  kept 
hovering  over  our  heads  till  the  game  was  sprung,  and  then  de- 
scending like  a  shot,  struck  its  prey  to  the  ground. 


£24 


ADVENTURES. 


LION,    LIONESS   AN'D    CUBS. 

CHAPTER  XL. 

SHOOTING  A  LION  FROM  A  WATCHING  PLACE. 

of  Mr.  Cummings*  modes  of 
hunting  in  Africa,  was  to  have  a 
hole  dug  near  a  fountain  or  piece  of 
water,  and  concealing  himself  in.  it,  to 
wait  for  the  approach  of  the  wilt! 
animnls  who  would  resort  to  it  to  drink 
The  following  extract  from  his  book 
shows  the  success  of  this  stratagem 
On  the  afternoon  of  the  3d  of  Sep 
tember  I  watched  the  fountain.  Toward  sunset  one  "blue  wilde- 
beest, six  zebras,  and  .a  large  herd  of  pallahs  were  all  drinking 
Vefore  me.  I  lay  enjoying  contemplation  for  at  least  fifteen 


HUNTING    A    LION.  22? 


minutes,  and  most  cf  them  having  slaked  their  thirst,  I  sent  a 
ball  through  the  heart  of  the  best  headed  pallah.  I  then  took  a 
long  shot  at  the  blue  wildebeest  bull,  and  sent  the  other  ball  iiito 
his  shoulder.  I  no\v  came  to  the  camp,  and  ordered  the  pallah 
to  be  placed  in  front  of  my  hole  beside  the  water,  to  attract  the 
lions.  Having  taken  my  coffee,  I  returned  to  the  water  with 
Kleinboy  and  Mollyee.  It  was  bright  moonlight.  We  had 
scarcely  lain  down,  when  the  terrible  voice  of  a  lion  was  heard 
a  little  to  the  east;  the  jackals  were  feasting  over  the  remains  of 
the  white  rhinoceros  of  yesterday,  and  only  one  or  two  occasionally 
came  and  snuffed  at  the  pallah.  Presently  a  herd  of  zebras, 
accompanied  by  elands,  approached  the  water,  but  were  too  timid 
to  come  in  and  drink  :  a  troop  of  wild  dogs  now  came  boldly  up, 
and  were  walking  off  with  the  pallah,  when  I  fired  into  them. 
They  made  off,  but  immediately  returning  and  again  seizing  my 
pallah,  I  fired  again,  and  wounded  one  of  them. 

Soon  after  we  had  lain  down  a  thundering  clattering  of  hoofs 
was  heard  coming  up  the  vley,  and  on  came  an  immense  herd  of 
wildebeest.  They  were  very  thirsty,  and  the  leading  cow  very 
soon  came  boldly  up  and  drank  before  me.  I  sent  a  ball  through 
her ;  she  ran  sixty  yards  up  the  slope  behind  me,  and  fell  dead. 
Her  comrades  then  thundered  across  the  vley,  and  took  up  a 
position  on  the  opposite  rising  ground.  In  two  minutes  the 
hyasnas  and  jackals  had  attacked  the  carcass  of  this  wildebeest. 
Soon  after  this  a  lion  gave  a  most  appalling  roar  on  the  bushy 
height  close  opposite  to  us,  which  was  succeeded  by  a  death-like 
stillness  which  lasted  for  nearly  a  minute.  I  had  then  only  one 
shot  in  my  four  barrels,  and  I  hastily  loaded  the  other  barrel  of 
my  Westley  Richards,  and  with  breathless  attention  kept  the 
strictest  watch  in  front,  expecting  every  moment  to  see  the  mighty 
and  terrible  king  of  beasts  approaching;  but  he  was  too  cunning 
He  saw  all  the  other  game  fight  shy  of  the  water,  so  he  made  a 
circuit  to  leeward  to  get  the  wind  off  the  fountain.  Soon  after  he 
roarod  I  heard  a  number  of  jackals  bothering  him,  as  if  telling 
him  .0  come  across  the  vley  to  the  wildebeest :  he  growled  from 
fide  to  side,  as  if  playing  with  them,  and  after  this  all  was  still. 


228  HUNTING    ADVENTURES 


I  had  listened  with  intense  anxiety  for  about  fifteen  min  i  ea 
longer,  when  I  heard  the  hyaenas  and  jackals  give  way  on  either 
side  behind  me  from  the  carcass  of  the  wildebeest,  and,  turning 
my  head  slowly  round,  beheld  a  huge  and  majestic  lion,  with  a 
black  mane  which  nearly  swept  the  ground,  standing  over  the 
carcass.  He  seemed  aware  of  my  proximity,  and,  lowering  his 
head,  at  once  laid  hold  of  the  wildebeest  and  dragged  it  some 
distance  up  the  hill.  He  then  halted  to  take  breath,  but  did  not 
expose  a  broadside,  and  in  a  quarter  of  a  minute  he  again  laid 
hold  of  the  wildebeest  and  dragged  it  about  twelve  yards  further 
toward  the  cover,  when  he  again  raised  his  noble  head  and  halted 
to  take  breath. 

I  had  not  an  instant  to  loose  ;  he  stood  with  his  rig'nt  side 
exposed  to  me  in  a  very  slanting  position  ;  I  stretched  my  left 
arm  across  the  grass,  and,  taking  him  rather  low,  fired ;  the  ball 
took  effect,  and  the  lion  sank  to  the  shot.  All  was  still  as  death 
for  many  seconds,  when  he  uttered  a  deep  growl,  and,  slowly 
gaining  his  feet,  limped  toward  the  cover,  roaring  mournfully  as 
he  went.  When  he  got  into  the  thorny  bushes  he  stumbled 
through  them  as  he  moved  along,  and  in  half  a  minute  I  heard 
him  halt  and  growl  fearfully,  as  if  dying.  1  had  now  every  reason 
to  believe  that  he  was  either  dead  or  would  die  .mmediately,  and 
that  if  I  did  not  seek  him  till  the  morning  I  knew  very  well  thai 
the  hyaenas  and  jackals  would  destroy  him.  I  accordingly  went 
up  to  camp,  and,  having  saddled  two  horses,  I  and  Martin  rode  ta 
seek  him,  taking  all  the  dogs,  led  in  strings  by  the  natives.  On 
reaching  the  carcass  of  the  wildebeest  we  slipped  the  dogs,  and 


HUNTING    A    LION. 


.hey  went  off' after  the  hyaenas  and  jackals:  we  listened  in  vain 
for  the  deep  growl  of  the  Jion,  but  I  was  persuaded  that  he  was 
dead,  and  rode  forward  to  the  spot  where  I  had  last  heard  him 
growl.  Lassie,  DOW  coming  up,  commenced  barking  at  a  bush 
in  front  of  me,  and,  riding  round,  I  had  the  immense  satisfaction 
to  bein, Id  the  most  magnificent  old  black-maned  lion  stretched  out 
before  me. 

The  ball  had  entered  his  belly  a  little  before  the  flank,  and 
traversed  the  length  and  breadth  of  his  body,  crippling  him  in  the 
opposite  shoulder.  No  description  could  give  a  correct  idea  of 
he  surpassing  beauty  of  this  most  majestic  animal,  as  he  lay  still 
warm  before  me.  1  lighted  a  fire  and  gazed  with  delight  upon 
his  lovely  mane,  his  massive  arms,  his  sharp  yellow  nails,  his 
hard  and  terrible  head,  his  immense  and  powerful  teeth,  his 
perfect  beauty  and  symmetry  throughout ;  and  I  felt  that  I  had 
won  the  noblest  prize  that  this  wide  world  could  yield  to  a  sports- 
man. Having  about  fifteeen  natives  with  me,  I  sent  for  rheims 
and  the  iechter-uit,  and  we  bore  the  lion  to  camp. 


liSO 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


J»<«L 

i* 

LEOPARD. 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

HUNTING    THE   LEOPARD   WITH   DOGS,  AND  ADVENTURES  WITB 
BUFFALOES   AND   LIONS. 

N  the  morning  of  the  22d,  say* 
Mr.  Gumming,  I  rode  into 
;/  camp,  after  unsuccessfully  fol- 
lowing the  spoor  of  a  herd  of 
elephants  for  two  days  in  a  westerly  course. 
\  Having  partaken  of  some  refreshment,  I 
saddled  up  two  steeds  and  rode  down  the 
bank  of  Ngctwani  with  the  Bushman,  tt 
seek  for  any  game  I  might  find.  .After 
riding  about  a  mile  along  the  river's  green 
bank,  I  came  suddenly  upon  an  old  male  leopard,  lying  under  the 
shade  of  a  thorn  grove,  and  panting  from  the  great  heat.  Although 
I  was  within  sixty  yards  of  him,  he  had  not  heard  the  horse's 
tread.  I  thought  he  was  a  lioness,  and,  dismounting,  took  a  rest 
m  my  saddle  on  the  Old  Gray,  and  sent  a  bullet  into  him.  He 
sprang  to  his  feet,  and  ran  half  way  down  the  river's  bank,  and 


HUNTING    THE   LEOPARD,    ETC.  231 

Btood  to  look  about  him,  when  I  sent  a  second  bi  llet  into  his 
person,  and  he  disappeared  over  the  bank.  The  ground  being 
very  dangerous,  I  did  not  disturb  him  by  following  then,  but  I  at 
once  sent  Ruyter  back  to  camp  for  the  dogs.  Presently  he 
returned  with  Wolf  and  Boxer,  very  much  done  up  with  the  sun. 
I  rode  forward,  and  on  looking  over  the  bank  the  leopard  started 
up  and  sneaked  off  alongside  of  the  tall  reeds,  and  was  instantly 
out  of  sight.  .  I  fired  a  random  shot  from  the  saddle  to  encourage 
the  dogs,  and  shouted  to  them ;  they,  however,  stood  looking 
stupidly  round,  and  would  not  take  up  his  scent  at  all.  I  led 
them  over  his  spoor,  again  f.nd  again,  but  to  no  purpose  ;  the  dog3 
seemed  quite  stupid,  and  yet  they  were  Wolf  and  Boxer,  my  two 
best. 

At  length  I  gave  it  up  as  a  lost  affair,  and  was  riding  down  the 
river's  bank,  when  I  heard  Wolf  give  tongue  behind  me,  and, 
galloping  back,  found  him  at  bay  with  the  leopard,  immediately 
beneath  where  I  had  fired  at  him  ;  he  was  very  severely  wounded, 
and  had  slipped  down  into  the  river's  bed  and  doubled  back, 
whereby  he  had  thrown  out  both  the  dogs  and  myself.  As  I 
approached  he  flew  out  upon  Wolf  and  knocked  him  over,  and 
then,  running  up  the  bed  of  the  river,  took  shelter  in  a  thick  bush: 
Wolf,  however,  followed  him,  and  at  this  moment  my  other  dogs 
came  up,  having  heard  the  shot,  and  bayed  him  fiercely.  He 
sprang  out  upon  them,  and  then  crossed  the  river's  bed,  taking 
shelter  beneath  some  large  tangled  roots  on  the  opposite  bank. 
As  he  crossed  the  river  I  put  a  third  bullet  into  him,  firing  from 
the  saddle,  and  as  soon  as  he  came  to  bay,  I  gave  him  a  fourth, 
which  finished  him.  This  leopard  was  a  very  fine  old  male , 
in  the  conflict  the  unfortunate  Alert  was  wounded,  as  usual, 
getting  his  face  torn  open  ;  he  was  still  going  on  three  legs,  with 
all  his  breast  laid  bare  by  the  first  water-buck. 

In  the  evening  I  directed  my  Hottentots  to  watch  a  fine  pool 
m  the  river,  and  do  their  best  while  I  rode  to  a  distant  pool 
several  miles  up  the  Ngotwani,  reported  as  very  good  for  game, 
to  lie  all  night  and  watch  :  my  Totties,  however,  fearing  '<•  Tao," 
disobeyed  me.  On  reaching  the  water  I  was  bound  for,  I  found  ii 


232  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


very  promising,  and,  having  fastened  my  two  horses  to  a  tree 
beneath  the  river's  bank,  I  prepared  a  place  of  concealment  c.ose 
by,  and  lay  >lown  for  the  night. 

The  rivei's  banks  on  each  side  were  clad  with  groves  of  shady 
thorn  trees.  After  I  had  lain  some  time,  squadrons  of  buffaloes 
were  heard  coming  on,  until  the  shady  grove  on  the  east  bank  of 
the  water  immediately  above  me  was  alive  with  them.  After 
some  time  the  leaders  ventured  down  the  river's  bank  to  drink, 
and  this  was  the  signal  for  a  general  rush  into  the  large  pool  of 
Wi-ter:  they  came  on  like  a  regiment  of  cavalry  at  a  gallop, 
making  a  mighty  din,  and  obscuring  the  air  with  a  dense  cloud  of 
dust.  At  length  I  sent  a  ball  into  one  of  them,  when  the  most 
tremendous  rush  followed  up  the  bank,  where  they  all  stood  still, 
listening  attentively.  I  knew  that  the  buffalo  was  severely 
wounded,  but  did  not  hear  him  fall.  Some  time  after  I  fired  at  a 
second,  as  they  stood  on  the  bank  above  me  ;  this  buffalo  was  also 
hard  hit,  but  did  not  then  fall.  A  little  after  I  fired  at  a  third  on 
the  same  spot;  he  ran  forty-yards,  and,  falling,  groaned  fearfully: 
this  at  once  brought  on  a  number  of  the  others  to  butt  their  dying 
comrade,  according  to  their  benevolent  custom.  I  then  crept  in 
toward  them,  and,  firing  my  fourth  shot,  a  second  buffalo  ran  for- 
ward a  few  yards,  and,  falling,  groaned  as  the  last ;  her  comrades, 
coming  up,  served  her  in  the  same  manner.  A  second  time  I 
crept  in,  and,  firing  a  fifth  shot,  a  third  buffalo  ran  forward,  and 
fell  close  to  her  dying  comrades :  in  a  few  minutes  all  the  other 
buffaloes  made  off,  and  the  sound  of  teeth  tearing  at  the  flesh  wa? 
heard  immediately. 

I  fancied  it  was  the  hyaenas,  and  fired  a  shot  to  scare  them  from 
the  flesh.  All  was  still ;  and,  being  anxious  to  inspect  the  heads 
of  the  buffaloes,  I  went  boldly  forward,  taking  the  native  who 
accompanied  me  along  with  me.  We  were  within  about  five 
yards  of  the  nearest  buffalo,  when  I  observed  a  yellow  mass  lying 
alongside  of  him,  and  at  the  same  instant  a  lion  gave"  a  deep  growl. 
I  thought  it  was  all  over  with  me.  The  native  shouted  "Tao," 
and,  springing  away,  instantly  commenced  blowing  shrilly  througn 
a  charmed  piei  e  of  bone  which  he  wore  on  his  necklace.  I 


ADVENTURE   WITH    A    LION.  233 


tetreated  to  the  native,  and  we  then  knelt  down.  The  lion  con- 
tinued his  meal,  tearing  away  at  the  buffalo,  and  growling  at  hia 
wife  and  family,  who,  I  found  next  day  by  the  spoor,  had  accom- 
panied him.  Knowing  that  he  would  not  molest  me  if  I  left  him 
alone,  I  proposed  to  the  native  to  go  to  our  hole  and  lie  down,  but 
he  would  not  hear  of  it,  and  entreated  me  to  fire  at  the  lion.  I 
fired  three  different  shots  where  I  thought  I  saw  him,  but  without 
any  effect ;  he  would  not  so  much  as  for  a  moment  cease  munch 
ing  my  buffalo.  I  then  proceeded  to  lie  down,  and  was  soon 
asleep,  the  native  keeping  watch  over  our  destinies.  Some  time 
after  midnight  other  lions  were  heard  coming  on  from  other  airts, 
and  my  old  friend  commenced  roaring  so  loudly  that  the  native 
thought  it  proper  to  wake  me. 

The  first  old  lion  now  wanted  to  drink,  and  held  right  away  for 
the  two  unfortunate  steeds,  roaring  terribly.  I  felt  rather  alarmed 
for  their  safety  ;  but,  trusting  that  the  lion  had  had  flesh  enough 
for  one  night,  I  lay  still,  and  listened  with  an  attentive  ear.  In  a 
few  minutes,  to  my  utter  horror,  I  heard  him  spring  upon  one  of 
the  steeds  with  an  angry  growl,  and  dash  him  to  the  earth ;  the 
steed  gave  a  slight  groan,  and  all  was  still.  I  listened  to  hear  the 
sound  of  teeth,  but  all  continued  still.  Soon  after  this  «  Tao"  was 
once  more  to  be  heard  munching  the  buffalo.  In  a  few  minutes 
he  came  forward,  and  stood  on  the  bank  close  above  us,  and  roared 
most  terribly,  walking  up  and  down,  as  if  meditating  some  mis- 
chief. I  now  thought  it  high  time  to  make  a  fire,  and,  quickly 
collecting  some  dry  reeds  and  little  sticks,  in  half  a  minute  we 
had  a  cheerful  blaze.  The  lion,  which  had  not  yet  got  our  wind, 
came  forward  at  once  to  find  out  what  the  deuse  was  up ;  but,  not 
seeing  to  his  entire  satisfaction  from  the  top  of  the  bank,  he  was 
proceeding  to  descend  by  a  game-path  into  the  river-bed  within  a 
few  yards  of  us.  I  happened  at  the  very  moment  to  go  to  this 
spot  to  fetch  more  wood,  and,  being  entirely  concealed  from  the 
lion's  view  above  by  the  intervening  high  reeds,  we  actually  mel 
face  to  face  ! 

The -first  notice  I  got  was  his  sudden  spring  to  one  side,  accom- 
panied by  repeated  angry  growls,  while  I  involuntarily  made  a 


234  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


convulsive  apnng  backward,  at  the  same  time  giving  a  fearful 
shriek,  such  as  I  never  before  remember  uttering.  I  fancied  just 
as  he  growled  that  he  was  coming  upon  me.  We  now  heaped  on 
more  wood,  and  kept  up  a  very  strong  fire  until  the  day  dawned, 
the  lions  feasting  beside  us  all  the  time,  notwithstanding  the  remon- 
strances of  the  little  native,  who,  with  a  true  Bechuana  spirit 
lamenting  the  loss  of  so  much  good  flesh,  kept  continually  shout- 
ing and  pelting  them  with  flaming  brands. 

The  next  morning,  when  it  was  clear,  I  arose  and  inspected  the 
buffaloes.  The  three  that  had  fallen  were  fine  old  cows,  and  two 
of  them  were  partly  consumed  by  the  lions.  The  ground  all 
around  was  packed  flat  with  their  spoor;  one  particular  spoor  was 
nearly  as  large  as  that  of  a  borele.  I  then  proceeded  to  inspect 
the  steeds  :  the  sand  around  them  was  also  covered  with  the  lion's 
spoor.  He  had  sprung  upon  the  Old  Gray,  but  had  done  him  no 
further  injury  than  scratching  his  back  through  the  skin  :  perhaps 
the  lion  had  been  scared  by  the  rheims,  or,  on  discovering  hit 
spare  condition,  had  preferred  the  buffalo. 


ADVENTURE   WITH   A   SNAKE. 


235 


A    PYTHON. 

CHAPTER  XLII. 

MR.   CUMMINGS'   ADVENTURE   WITH    A    SNAKE. 

N  the  25th,  after  breakfast,  I  started  with  bed 
ding  and  provisions  to  hunt  for  a  few  days  on 
the  other  side  of  the  hills.  We  visited  the 
first  water,  and  established  a  place  of  conceal- 
ment with  rocks  and  green  boughs  on  the  rock. 
While  we  were  making  this  bothy  a  wild  boai 
hove  in  view,  but,  observing  us,  he  escaped, 
We  then  held  on  to  the  further  ravine,  and  on  my  way  thither  I 
nearly  rode  down  a  fine  old  bastard  gemsbok,  which  got  away 
among  the  rocks.  I  repaired  an  old  hiding-hole  at  this  water 


236  HUNTINtt    ADVENTURES. 


ouilding  it  up  with  fragments  of  rock.  I  then  sent  the  steeds  to  a 
proper  distance,  put  out  my  fire,  and  lay  down  to  watch  for  the 
night. 

First  came  a  pallah,  closely  followed  by  a  wild  dog.  The 
pallah  escaped ;  the  wild  dog  presently  returned,  and,  observing 
my  retreating  men,  barked  loudly  ;  ten  minutes  after,  about  eight 
wild  dogs  came  up  the  glen  and  drank.  Night  now  set  in,  and 
the  moonlight  very  faint.  Presently  an  occasional  loud  displace- 
ment of  rock  and  stone  announced  the  approach  of  large  game  :  it 
was  two  old  buffaloes  ;  they  came  and  drank,  and  went  away 
without  approaching  within  shot.  Soon  after,  fourteen  buffaloes 
came  ;  but  before  these  had  finished  drinking,  they  got  an  alarm, 
and  charged  panic-stricken  up  the  rugged  mountain  side.  They 
had  winded  two  lions,  which  came  up  to  the  fountain  head,  and 
drank  within  eighteen  yards  of  me,  where  they  lay  lapping  loudly, 
and  occasionally  halting  for  four  or  five  minutes,  but,  from  their 
light  color  and  the  masses  of  rock  that  surrounded  them,  I  could 
not  see  to  fire.  About  ten  minutes  after  they  had  drunk  I  fanciea 
that  they  were  stili  lingering,  and  on  throwing  a  stone  their  step 
was  heard  retreating  among  the  dry  leaves  and  stones. 

Soon  after  this  six  i  Id  buffaloes  approached  from  a  glen  behind 
us :  they  walked  very  slowly,  standing  long  to  listen.  When 
the  leader  came  up  to  within  twenty  yards  of  us,  Kleinboy  and  I 
fired  together  ;  it  ran  thirty  yards,  and  in  two  minutes  fell.  His 
comrades,  after  considering  the  matter  for  five  minutes,  came  on 
once  more  :  we  again  took  the  leader,  and  he  also  dropped.  His 
comrades,  as  before,  retreated,  but,  soon  returning,  we  wounded  a 
third,  which  we  did  not  get.  The  moon  was  now  under,  and  it 
was'^rery  dark ;  the  buffaloes,  however,  were  determined  to  try  it 
on  once  more,  and  coming  up  a  fourth  and  last  time,  we  shot 
another  old  bull.  In  about  ten  minutes  lions  were  very  busy  on 
the  carcase  of  the  first  buffalo,  where  they  feasted  till  morning, 
taking  another  drink  before  they  went  away.  Toward  daybreak 
we  wounded  a  white  rhinoceros,  and  soon  after  two  black  rhinoce- 
roses fought  beside  us,  but  I  was  too  sleepy  to  rise. 

On  the  26th  I  rose  at  earliest  dawn  to  inspect  the  heads  of  the 


ADVENTURE    WITH   A   SNAKE. 


three  old  buffaloes ;  they  were  all  enormous  old  bul^s,  and  one  of 
them  carried  a  most  splendid  head.  The  lions  had  cleaned  out 
all  his  enl  AJs  :  their  spool  was  immense.  Having  taken  some 
ouffalo  breast  and  liver  for  breakfast,  I  dispatched  Ruyter  to  the 
wagons  to  call  the  natives  to  remove  the  carcases,  while  I  and 
Kleinboy  held  through  the  hills  to  see  what  game  might  be  in  the 
next  glen  which  contained  water.  On  our  way  thither  we  started 
a  fine  old  buck  koodo,  which  I  shot,  putting  both  barrels  into  him 
at  one  hundred  yards.  .  As  I  was  examining  the  spoor  of  the  game 
by  the  fountain,  I  suddenly  detected  an  enormous  old  rock-snake 
stealing  in  beneath  a  mass  of  rock  beside  me.  He  was  truly  an 
enormous  snake,  and,  having  never  before  dealt  with  this  species 
of  game,  I  did  not  exactly  know  how  to  set  about  capturing  him. 
Being  very  anxious  to  preserve  his  skin  entire,  and  not  wishing 
to  have  recourse  to  my  rifle,  I  cut  a  stout  and  tough  stick  about 
eight  feet  long,  and  having  lightened  myself  of  my  shooting-belt, 
I  commenced  the  attack.  Seizing  him  by  the  tail,  I  tried  to  get 
him  out  of  his  place  of  refuge  ;  but  I  hau',ed  in  vain ;  he  only 
drew  his  large  folds  firmer  together ;  I  could  not  move  him.  At 
length  I  got  a  rheim  round  one  of  his  folds  about  the  middle  of 
his  body,  and  Kleinboy  and  I  commenced  hauling  away  in  good 
earnest. 

The  snake,  finding  the  ground  too  hot  for  him.  relaxed  his  coils, 
and,  suddenly  bringing  round  his  head  to  the  front,  he  sprang  out 
at  us  like  an  arrow,  with  his  immense  arid  hideous  mouth  opened 
to  its  largest  dimensions,  and  before  I  could  get  out  of  his  way  he 
was  clean  out  of  his  hole,  and  made  a  second  spring,  throwing 
himself  forward  about  eight  or  ten  feet,  and  snapping  his  horrid 
fangs  within  a  foot  of  my  naked  legs.  I  sprang  out  of  his  way, 
and,  getting  a  hold  of  the  green  bough  I  had  cut,  returned  to  the 
charge.  The  snake  now  glided  along  at  top  speed  :  he  knew  the 
ground  well,  and  was  making  for  a  mass  of  broken  rocks,  where 
he  would  have  been  beyond  my  reach,  but  before  he  could  gain 
this  place  of  refuge  I  caught  him  two  or  three  tremendous  whacks 
on  tne  head.  He,  however,  held  on,  and  gained  a  pool  of  muddy 
water,  which  he  was  rapidly  crossing,  when  I  again  belabored 


240 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


him,  and  at  length  reduced  his  pace  to  a  stand.  We  then  hanged 
him  by  the  neck  to  a  bough  of  a  tree,  and  in  about  fifteen  minutea 
he  seemed  dead,  but  he  again  became  very  troublesome  during 
the  operation  of  skinning,  twisting  his  body  in  all  manner  of  ways. 
This  serpent  measured  fourteen  feet.* 

At  night  no  game  visited  the  water,  being  scared  by  the  strong 
smell  of  the  carrion.  Lions,  however,  were  so  numerous  that  we 
deemed  it  safe  to  shift  a  position  we  had  taken  down  the  glen,  for 
they  trotted  past  within  twenty  yards  of  us,  growling  fearfully. 
We  fired  ofT  the  big  gun  to  scare  them  for  the  moment  while  we 
shifted  to  our  baggage  at  the  fountain  head,  where  we  instantly 
lighted  a  large  fire.  The  lions,  for  a  short  time  after  this,  kept 
quiet,  when  they  again  returned,  and  the  fire  being  low,  they  soon 
commenced  upon  the  buffalo  the  natives  had  left  within  fifty  yards 
of  us,  and  before  morning  two  of  them  came  up  and  looked  into 
our  bothy,  when  Boxer,  giving  a  sharp  bark,  and  I  suddenly 
awaking  and  popping  up  my  head,  they  bounded  off. 

•  This  snake  was  probably  a  Python,  a  large  snake  common  in  Africa. 


ADVENTURE   WITH   A   SNAKE.  243 


IB.  the  evening  of  the  28th  I  shot  an  old  bull  koodo.  At  nighl 
I  watched  the  water  near  my  camp  with  Kleinboy.  After  a  long 
time  had  elapsed,  an  enormous  old  bull  muchoco  or  white  rhino- 
ceros came  slowly  on,  and  commenced  drinking  within  fifteen 
yards  of  us,  and  next  minute  a  large  herd  of  zebras  and  blue 
wildebeest.  It  was  long  before  the  muchoco  would  turn  his  side ; 
when  he  did,  we  fired  together,  and  away  he  went  with  zebra' 
and  wildebeests  concealed  in  a  cloud  of  dust.  Next  came  an  old 
bull  borele ;  we  fired  together,  and  he  made  ofF,  blowing  loudly, 
after  charging  round  and  round,  seeking  some  object  on  which  to 
wreak  his  vengeance.  Next  came  another  borele,  and  he  got  two 
bullets  into  his  person.  The  fourth  that  came  was  another  old 
bull  muchoco ;  he  ran  forty  yards  and  fell.  And  fifth  came  a  cow 
bortle ;  she  fell  dead  to  the  shots.  Three  other  rhinoceroses 
came  about  me,  but  I  was  too  drowsy  to  watch  any  longer,  and 
fell  asleep. 

These  fountains  afforded  me  excellent  shooting  for  about  a  fort- 
night longer,  during  the  whole  of  which  time  I  watched  nightly 
in  my  different  hiding-holes,  and  bagged  buffaloes,  rhinoceroses, 
koodoos,  zebras,  and  other  game.  One  night,  while  so  engaged, 
a  horrid  snake,  which  Kleinboy  had  tried  to  kill  with  his  loading- 
rod,  flew  up  at  my  eye,  and  spat  poison  into  it.  Immediately  I 
washed  it  well  out  at  the  fountain.  I  endured  great  pain  all 
light,  but  next  day  th-3  eye  came  all  right 


812 


HUNTING     ADVENTUBWJ. 


BLBSBOK. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 


HUNTING   THE   BLESBOK   AND   BOAR. 

TlHE  blesbok,  says  Mr.  Cam* 
ming,  in  his  manners  and 
habits,  very  much  resembles  the 
springbok,  which,  however,  it 
greatly  exceds  in  size,  being  as 
large  as  an  English  fallow-deer. 
It  is  one  of  the  true  antelopes,  and 
all  its  movements  and  paces  par- 
take of  the  grace  and  elegance 
peculiar  to  that  species.  Its  color 
is  similar  to  that  of  the  sassayby,  its  skin  being  beautifully  painted 
with  every  shade  of  purple,  violet,  and  brown.  Its  belly  is  of  the 
purest  wjiite,  and  a  broad  white  band,  or  "  blaze,"  adoi  as  the  entire 
of  its  face.  Blesboks  differ  from  springboks  in  the  determined 


HUNTING   THE   BLESBOK.  2(3 


and  in  /ariable  manner  in  which  they  scour  the  plains,  right  in  th« 
wind's  eye,  and  also  in  the  manner  in  which  they  carry  their  noses 
close  along  the  ground.  Throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  yeai 
they  are  very  wary  and  difficult  of  approach,  but  more  especially 
when  the  does  have  young  ones.  At  that  season,  when  one  herd  ij 
disturbed,  and  takes  away  up  the  wind,  every  other  herd  in  view 
follows  them  ;  and  the  alarm  extending  for  miles  and  miles  down 
the  wind,  to  endless  herds  beyond  the  vision  of  the  hunter,  a  con- 
tinued stream  of  blesboks  may  often  be  seen  scouring  up  wind  for 
upward  of  an  hour,  and  covering  the  landscape  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  see.  The  springboks,  which  in  equal  numbers  frequent  the 
same  ground,  do  not,  in  general,  adopt  the  same  decided  course  as 
the  blesboks,  but  take  away  in  every  direction  across  the  plains, 
sometimes  with  flying  bounds,  beautifully  exhibiting  the  long> 
snowy-white  hair  with  which  their  backs  are  adorned,  and  at 
others  walking  slowly  and  carelessly  out  of  the  hunter's*  way, 
scarcely  deigning  to  look  at  him,  with  an  air  of  perfect  independ- 
ence, as  if  aware  of  their  own  matchless  speed. 

The  black  wildebeests,  which  also  thickly  cover  the  entire 
length  and  breadth  of  the  blesbok  country,  in  herds  averaging 
from  twenty  to  fifty,  have  no  regular  course,  like  the  blesboks. 
Unless  driven  by  a  large  field  of  hunters,  they  do  not  leave  their 
ground,  although  disturbed.  Wheeling  about  in  endless  circles, 
and  performing  the  most  extraordinary  variety  of  intricate  evolu- 
tions, the  shaggy  herds  of  these  eccentric  and  fierce-looking  ani- 
mals are  forever  capering  and  gamboling  round  the  hunter  on 
every  side.  While  he  fe  rid'ng  hard  to  obtain  a  family  shot  of  a 
herd  in  front  of  him,  other  herds  are  charging  down  wind  on  his 
right  and  left,  and,  having  described  a  number  of  circular  move- 
ments, they  take  up  positions  upon  the  very  ground  across  which 
the  hunter  rode  only  a  few  minutes  before. 

Singly,  and  in  small  troops  of  four  or  five  individuals,  the  old 
bull  wildebeests  may  be  seen  stationed  at  intervals  throughout  the 
plains,  standing  motionless  during  a  whole  forenoon,  coolly  watch- 
ing with  a  philosophic  eye  the  movements  of  the  other  game, 
eternally  uttering  a  loud  snorting  noise,  and  also  a  short,  sharp 


244  HUNTING     ADVENl'ULES. 


cry  which  is  peculiar  to  them.  When  the  hunter  approachei 
these  old  bulls,  they  commence  whisking  their  long  white  tails  in 
a  most  eccentric  manner ;  then  suddenly  springing  into  the  air, 
they  begin  prancing  and  capering,  and  pursue  each  other  in 
circles  at  their  utmost  speed.  Suddenly  they  all  pull  up  together 
to  overhaul  the  intruder,  when  two  of  the  bulls  will  often  commence 
fighting  m  the  most  violent  manner,  dropping  on  their  knees  at 
every  shock :  then  quickly  wheeling  about,  they  kick  up  their 
heels,  whirl  their  tails  with  a  fantastic  flourish,  and  scour  across  a 
plain  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  dust. 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  plains  frequented  by  bles 
boks,  numbers  of  the  sun-baked  hills  or  mounds  of  clay  formed  by 
the  white  ants  occur.  The  average  height  of  the  ant-hills,  in 
these  district,  is  from  two  to  three  feet.  They  are  generally  dis- 
tant from  one  another  from  one  to  three  hundred  yards,  being 
more  or  less  thickly  placed  in  different  parts.  These  ant-hills  are 
of  the  greatest  service  to  the  hunter ;  enabling  himself  with  facility 
to  conceal  himself  on  the  otherwise  open  plain.  By  means  of 
them  I  was  enabled  to  hide,  and  select  out  of  the  herds  the  bucks 
and  bulls  carrying  the  finest  heads,  for  my  collection. 

On  the  28th,  having  breakfasted,  I  rode  forth  with  two  after- 
riders  to  try  for  blesboks,  and  took  up  positions  on  the  plain,  lying 
flat  on  my  breast  behind  ant-hills,  while  my  after-riders,  one  of 
whom  led  my  horse,  endeavored  to  move  them  toward  me.  We 
found  the  blesboks  abundant,  but  extremely  wary.  I  wounded 
several,  but  did  not  bag  one.  I,  however,  shot  two  springboks, 
which  were  fat,  and  whose  flesh  we  stood  much  in  need  of.  I 
had  several  chances  of  wildebeests,  but  I  had  icsolved  not  to  fire 
at  them. 

The  following  day  was  the  1st  of  March.  After  an  early  break' 
fast  I  again  took  the  field,  with  my  after-riders  and  a  spare  horse 
There  was  thunder  and  lightning  on  all  sides,  and  I  expected  the 
day  would  set  in  wet :  it  all  passed  over,  however,  with  a  few 
showers,  and  the  weather  was  delightfully  cool.  I  lay  behind 
ant-hills,  while  my  men,  extending  to  the  right  and  left,  endeavored 
to  drive  the  game  toward  me.  Late  in  the  day  I  bagged  a  fin« 


HUNTING   THE   BLESBOK.  245 


old  blesbok  :  it  was  a  family  shot,  running  at  two  hum/red  yards. 
I  also  shot  a  springbok,  and  mortally  wounded  another ;  both  were 
very  long  shots. 

The  blesbok  is  one  of  the  finest  antelopes  in  the  world,  and  is 
allowed  to  be  the  swiftest  buck  in  Africa.  He,  nevertheless 
attains  very  high  condition,  and  at  this  period  was  exceedingly 
fat.  I  was  surprised  and  delighted  with  the  exquisite  manner  in 
which  his  beautiful  colors  are  blended  together.  Nothing  can 
exceed  the  beauty  of  this  animal.  Like  most  other  African  ante 
lopes,  his  skin  emitted  a  most  delicious  and  powerful  perfume  of 
flowers  and  sweet-smelling  herbs.  A  secretion  issues  from  be- 
tween his  hoofs  which  has  likewise  a  pleasing  perfume. 

The  3d  was  a  charmingly  cool  day.  At  an  early  hour  in  the 
morning  I  was  visited  by  a  party  of  Boers,  some  of  whom  I  had 
previously  met.  They  were  proceeding  to  hunt  wildebeest  and 
blesbok,  and  were  mounted  on  mares,  each  of  which  was  followed 
by  a  foal.  They  requested  me  to  join  them  in  their  "jag,"  but 
I  excus'ed  myself,  preferring  to  hunt  alone.  Having  partaken 
largely  of  my  coffee,  the  Boers  mounted  their  mares  and  departed, 
holding  a  southeasterly  course.  As  soon  as  they  were  out  of 
sight  I  saddled  up  and  rode  north,  with  two  after-riders,  to  try  for 
blesboks.  I  found  the  country  extremely  pleasant  to  ride  on.  It 
resembled  a  well-kept  lawn.  Troops  of  graceful  springbok  and 
ftlesbok  were  to  be  seen  cantering  right  and  left,  and  large  herds 
of  black  wildebeests  in  every  direction,  now  charging  and  caper- 
ing, and  now  reconnoitering.  I  took  up  positions  on  the  plain 
behind  the  ant-hills.  In  the  forenoon  I  wounded  one  blesbok,  and 
late  in  the  day  I  made  a  fine  double  shot,  knocking  over  two  old 
blesboks  right  and  left,  at  a  hundred  and  a  hundred  and  fifty 
yards.  I  also  shot  one  springbok.  While  «  grallochmg"  a  buck, 
one  of  the  Boers  rode  up  to  me  to  say  that  his  brother  had  wounded 
a  wildebeest,  which  stood  at  bay  on  the  plain,  and  his  ammunition 
being  expended,  he  would  feel  obliged  by  my  coming  to  his  assist- 
ance. I  accordingly  accompanied  the  Boer  to  where  his  brothef 
stood  sentry  over  the  wounded  bull,  when  I  lent  him  my  rille 
with  which  he  finished  his  bull  with  a  bullet  in  the  forehead. 


246  HUNTTNO     ADVENTURES. 


On  the  following  day  I  hunted  to  the  northeast  of  .my  camp,  and 
made  a  fine  shot  at  a  blesbok,  knocking  him  over  at  a  hundred 
and  fifty  yards.  Returning  to  camp  in  a  low-lying  grassy  vley,  I 
started  a  herd  of  "  vlacke  varcke,"  or  wild  hogs.  The  herd  con- 
sisted of  seven  half-grown  young  ones  and  three  old  ones,  one  of 
which  carried  a  pair  of  enormous  tusks,  projecting  eight  or  nine 
inches  beyond  his  lip.  Being  well  mounted  and  the  ground  favor- 
able, I  at  once  gave  chase,  and  was  soon  at  their  heels.  My  horse 
was  "  The  Gray."  I  selected  the  old  boar  for  my  prey,  and 
immediately  separated  him  from  his  comrades.  After  two  miles 
of  sharp  galloping,  we  commenced  ascending  a  considerable 
acclivity,  when  I  managed  to  close  with  him,  and  succeeded  in 
turning  his  head  toward  my  camp.  He  now  reduced  his  pace  to 
a  trot,  and  regarded  me  with  a  most  malicious  eye,  his  mouth  a 
mass  of  foam.  He  was  entirely  in  my  power,  as  I  had  only  to 
spring  from  my  horse  and  bowl  him  over.  I  felt  certain  of  him, 
but  resolved  not  to  shoot  as  long  as  his  course  lay  in  the  direction 
of  the  wagons.  At  length,  surprised  at  the  resolute  manner  in 
which  he  held  for  my  camp,  I  headed  him  ;  when,  to  my  astonish- 
ment, he  did  not  in  the  slightest  swerve  from  his  course,  but 
trotted  along  behind  my  horse  like  a  dog  following  me.  This  at 
once  roused  my  suspicions,  and  I  felt  certain  that  the  cunning  old 
fellow  was  making  for  some  retreat,  so  1  resolved  to  dismount  and 
finish  him.  Just,  however,  as  I  had  come  to  this  resolution,  I 
suddenly  found  myself  in  a  labyrinth  of  enormous  holes,  the  bur- 
rows of  the  ant-bear.  In  front  of  one  of  these  the  wild  boar 
pulled  up,  and,  charging  stern  foremost  into  it,  disappeared  from 
my  disappointed  eyes,  and  I  saw  him  no  more.  I  rode  home  fni 
my  men  ;  and  returning,  we  collected  grass  and  bushes,  and  to* 
d«w»"ored  to  smoke  him  out,  but  without  success. 


HUNTING    THE    HIPPOPOTAMUS. 


241 


HOPPOPOTAM  US. 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 

HUNTING   THE   HIPPOPOTAMUS. 

N  the  17th  of  June,  says  Mr.  Cum 
ming,  having  found  a  good  drift 
I  crossed  the  Limpopo  with  my 
wagons,  and  drew  them  up  in  a 
gre'en  and  shady  spot.   I  then  rode  a  long  way 
down  the  eastern  bank  in  quest  of  hippopo- 
tami, and  late  in  the   °vening  I  found  one, 
which  I  did  not  molest,  trusting  to  find  hiri 
the  next  day. 

On  the  18th  a  dense  mist  hung  over  the 
river  all  the'moining.  Ordering  the  wagons  to  follow  in  an  hour, 
I  rode  ahead  to  soak  the  sea-cow  of  the  previous  night,  hut  after  a 
long  search  I  gave  it  up  as  a  bad  job,  and,  kindling  a  fire  to  warm 
myself,  awaited  the  wagons,  which  presently  came  up.  Here  I 
halted  for  two  hours,  and  then  once  more  rode  ahead  to  seek  hip- 
popotami. The  river  became  more  promising  for  sea-cows.  At 
every  turn  there  occurred  deep,  still  pools,  with  occasional  sandy 
islands  densely  clad  with  lofty  reeds,  and  with  banks  covered  with 
reeds  to  a  breadth  of  thirty  yards.  Above  and  beyond  these  reeds 
stood  trees  of  immense  age  and  gigantic  size,  beneath  which  grew 
a  long  and  very  rank  description  of  grass,  on  which  the  sea-cow 
delights  to  pasture. 

1    soun   found   fresh  spoor,  and   after  holding  on  for    several 


248  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


miles,  just  as  the  sun  was  going  down,  and  as  I  entered  a  dense 
reed  cover,  I  came  upon  the  fresh  lairs  of  four  hippopotami. 
They  had' been  lying  sleeping  on  the  margin  of  the  river,  and,  on 
hearing  me  come  crackling  through  the  reeds,  had  plunged  into  the 
deep  water.  I  at  once  ascertained  they  were  newly  started,  for 
the  froth  and  bubbles  were  still  on  the  spot  where  they  had 
plunged  in.  Next  moment  I  heard  them  blowing  a  little  way 
down  the  river.  I  then  headed  them,  and  with  considerable  dif- 
ficulty, owing  to  the  cover  and  the  reeds,  at  length  came  right 
down  above  .where  they  were  standing.  It  was  a  broad  part  of 
the  river,  with  a  sandy  bottom,  and  the  water  came  half  way  up 
their  sides.  There  were  four  of  them,  three  cows  and  an  old  bull ; 
they  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  and,  though  alarmed,  did 
not  appear  aware  of  the  extent  of  the  impending  danger. 

I  took  the  sea-cow  next  me,  and  with  my  first  ball  I  gave  her 
a  mortal  wound,  knocking  loose  a  great  plate  on  the  top  of  her 
;skull.  She  at  once  commenced  plunging  round  and  round,  and 
then  occasionally  remained  still,  sitting  for  a  few  minutes  on 
the  same  spot.  On  hearing  the  report  of  my  rifle  two  of  the 
others  took  up  stream,  and  the  fourth  dashed  down  the  river; 
they  trotted  along,  like  oxen,  at  a  smart  pace,  as  long  as  the  water 
was  shallow.  I  was  now  in  a  state  of  very  great  anxiety  about  my 
wounded  sea-cow,  for  I  feared  that  she  would  get  into  deep  water, 
and  be  lost  like  the  last  one  ;  her  struggles  were  still  carrying  her 
down  stream,  and  the  water  was  becoming  deeper.  To  settle  the 
matter,  I  accordingly  fired  a  second  shot  from  the  bank,  which 
entering  the  roof  of  her  skull,  passed  out  through  her  eye  ;  she 
then  kept  continually  splashing  round  and  round  in  a  circle  in  the 
middle  of  the  river.  I  had  great  fears  of  the  crocodiles,  and  did  not 
know  that  the  sea-cow  might  not  attack  me.  My  anxiety  to  secure 
her,  however,  overcame  all  hesitation  ;  so,  divesting  myself  of  my 
leathers,  and  armed  with  a  sharp  knife,  I  dashed  into  the  water 
which  at  first  took  me  up  to  my  arm-pits,  but  in  the  middle  was 
shallower. 

As  I  approached  Behemoth,  her  eye  looked  very  wicked.     1 
Milted  for  a  moment  ready  to  dive  under  the  water  if  she  attacked 


HUNTING   THE  HIPPOPOTAMUS.  251 


me  ;  but  she  'vas  stunned,  and  did  not  know  what  she  was  doing ; 
so,  running  :'a  *ipon  her,  and  seizing  her  short  tail,  I  attempted  to 
incline  her  course  to  land.  It  was  extraordinary  what  enormous 
strength  she  still  had  in  the  water.  I  could  not  guide  her  in  the 
slightest,  and  she  continued  to  splash,  and  plunge,  and  blow,  and 
make  her  circular  course,  carrying  me  along  with  her  as  if  I  was 
a  fly  on  her  tail.  Finding  her  tail  gave  me  but  a  poor  hold,  as  thp 
only  means  of  securing  my  prey,  I  took  out  my  knife  and  cut  two 
deep  parallel  incisions  through  the  skin  on  her  rump.  Lifting 
this  skin  from  the  flesh  so  that  I  could  get  in  my  two  hands,  I 
made  use  of  this  as  a  handle  ;  and  after  some  desperate  hard  work, 
sometimes  pushing,  sometimes  pulling,  the  sea-cow  continuing  her 
circular  course  all  the  time,  and  1  holding  on  at  her  rump  like 
grim  Death,  eventually  I  succeeded  in  bringing  this  gigantic  and 
most  powerful  animal  to  the  bank.  Here  the  Bushman  quickly 
brought  me  a  stout  buffalo  rheim  from  my  horse's  neck,  which  I 
passed  through  the  opening  in  the  thick  skin,  and  moored  Behe- 
moth to  a  tree.  I  then  took  my  rifle  and  sent  a  ball  through  the 
center  of  her  head,  and  she  was  numbered  with  the  dead. 

At  this  moment  my  wagons  came  up  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  of  the  spot,  where  I  outspanned,  and  by  moonlight  we  took 
down  a  span  of  select  oxen  and  a  pair  of  rheim  chains,  and 
succeeded  in  dragging  the  sea-cow  high  and  dry.  We  were  all 
astonished  at  her  enormous  size ;  she  appeared  to  be  about  five 
feet  broad  across  the  belly.  I  could  see  much  beauty  in  the 
animal,  which  Nature  has  admirably  formed  for  the  amphibious 
life  it  was  destined  to  pursue. 

We  were  occupied  all  the  morning  of  the  19th  cutting  up  and 
salting  the  select  parts  of  the  sea-cow  ;  of  the  skull  I  took  particular 
charge.  She  was  extremely  fat,  more  resembling  a  pig  than  a 
cow,  or  a  horse.  In  the  evening  I  rode  down  the  river,  and  shot 
a  brace  of  water-bucks,  after  which  I  left  the  river-bank  and  rode 
to  the  summit  of  an  adjacent  hill,  from  which  I  obtained  a  fine 
view  of  the  surrounding  country.  Many  bold  blue  mountain  ranges 
stood  to  the  north  and  no-**1  west ;  to  the  east  and  southeast  were 
*Iso  "•"•^untain  ranges. 


258 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

MR.  CUMMING'S  ADVENTURE  WITH  AN  EXTRAORDINARY  HERD 
OF  BLESBOKS. 


PON  the  19th  of  March,  1848,  says 
Mr.  Gumming,  I  left  Colesberg 
with  three  wagons  "  well  manned 
and  stored,"  for  my  fifth  and  last  cruise  in 
the  far  interior.  I  was  joined  by  a  Mr. 
Orpen  (a  mighty  Nimrcd),  who,  notwilh 
standing  my  representing  to  him  the 
dangers  and  hardships  of  an  elephani 
hunting  expedition  in  their  blackest  colors,  kindly  agreed  to  favoi 
me  with  his  help  and  company  on  my  lonely  trip.  My  sojourn 
\n  Colesberg  reduced  me  considerably,  and  I  was  glad  once  more 


ADVENTURE    WITH   BLESBOKS.  2f>5 


o  breathe  the  fresh  air  of  the  countf^.  We  got  clear  of  Colesberg 
at  about  9  A.M.,  and  commenced  our  march  over  the  country  1 
had  so  often  marked  with  my  wheel-tracks,  and  which  my  reader 
must  now  be  fully  acquainted  with.  On  my  way  I  completely 
recruited  my  oxen  and  stud,  and  prepared  myself  to  take  the  field 
with  an  immense  pack  of  stout  serviceable  dogs.  I  also  engaged 
as  after-rider  a  Bushman  named  Booi. 

The  game  became  plentiful  in  about  ten  days  after  we  left  Coles- 
berg,  but  when  we  came  to  the  Vet  River  I  beheld  with  astonish- 
ment and  delight  decidedly  one  of  the  most  wonderful  displays 
which  I  had  witnessed  during  my  varied  sporting  career  in 
Southern  Africa.  On  my  right  and  left  the  plain  exhibited  or? 
purple  mass  of  graceful  blesboks,  which  extended  without  a  break 
as  far  as  my  eyes  could  strain:  the  depth  of  their  vast  legions 
covered  a  breadth  of  about  six  hundred  yards.  On  pressing  upon 
them,  they  cantered  along  before  me,  not  exhibiting  much  alarm, 
taking  care,  however,  not  to  allow  me  to  ride  within  at  least  four 
hundred  yards  of  them.  On,  on  I  rode,  intensely  excited  with  the 
wondrous  scene  before  me,  and  hoped  at  length  to  get  to  wind- 
ward of  at  least  some  portion  of  the  endless  living  mass  which 
darkened  the  plain,  but  in  vain.  Like  squadrons  of  dragoons, 
the  entire  breadth  of  this  countless  herd  held  on  their  forward  course 
as  if  aware  of  my  intention,  and  resolved  not  to  allow  me  to 
weather  them. 

At  length  I  determined  to  play  upon  their  rankss  and,  pressing 
my  horse  to  his  utmost  speed,  dashed  forward,  and,  suddenly 
halting,  sprang  from  the  saddle,  and,  giving  my  rifle  at  least  two 
feet  of  elevation,  fired  right  and  left  into  one  of  their  darkest  masses. 
A  noble  buck  dropped  to  the  right  barrel,  and  the  second  shot 
told  loudly  ;  no  buck,  however,  fell,  and  after  lying  for  half  a 
minute  the  prostrate  blesbok  rose,  and  was  quickly  los1  sight  of 
among  his  retreating  comrades.  In  half  a  minute  I  was  again 
loaded,  and  after  galloping  a  few  hun'dred  yards,  let  drive  into 
them,  but  was  still  unsuccessful.  Excited  and  annoyed  at  my 
want  of  luck,  I  resolved  to  follow  them  up,  and  blaze  away  while 
a  shot  remained  in  the  locker,  which  I  did  ;  until,  after  riding 


255  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


about  eight  or  nine  miles,  I  fotlnd  my  ammunition  expended,  and 
not  a  single  blesbok  bagged,  although  at  least  a  dozen  must  have 
been  wounded.  It  was  now  high  time  to  retrace  my  steps  and  seek 
my  wagons.  I  accordingly  took  a  point,  and  rode  across  the 
trackless  country  in  the  direction  for  which  they  were  steering. 

I  very  soon  once  more  fell  in  with  fresh  herds  of  thousands  of 
blesboks.  As  it  was  late  in  the  day,  and  I  being  on  the  right  side 
for  the  wind,  the  blesboks  were  very  tame,  and  allowed  me  to  ride 
along  within  rifle-shot  of  them,  and  those  which  ran  charged  reso- 
lutely past  me  up  the  wind  in  long-continued  streams.  I  took  a 
lucky  course  for  the  wagons,  and  came  right  upon  them,  having 
just  outspanned  on  the  bank  of  the  Vet  River.  1  could  willingly 
have  devoted  a  month  to  blesbok  shooting  in  this  hunter's  elysium, 
but,  having  heard  from  a  party  of  Bastards  that  the  Vaal  River 
was  low,  and  being  extremely  anxious  to  push  on,  I  inspanned, 
and  continued  my  march  by  moonlight.  Before  proceeding  far 
we  discovered  the  deeply-imprinted  spoor  of  an  enormous  lion, 
which  had  walked  along  the  wagon-track  for  several  hundred 
yards.  We  continued  our  march  till  after  midnight,  vast  herds  of 
blesbock  charging  from  us  on  every  side.  Lions  were  hearc 
'oaring  for  the  first  time  during  this  night. 


HUNTING   THE   WHITE   RHINOCEROS. 


257 


WHITE   RHINOCEROS. 

CHAPTER  XLVI. 

HUNTING   THE   WHITE   RHINOCEROS,   LION,   BUFFALO  AND 
GIRAFFE. 

PON  the  9th,  says  Mr.  Gumming,  it 
rained  unceasingly  throughout  the 
day,  converting   the  rich   soil   on 
which  we  were  encamped  into  one 
mass  of  soft,  sticky  clay.     In  the  forenoon, 


fearing  the  rain  would  continue  so  as  to  ren- 
der the  vley  (through  which  we  must  pass  to 
gain  the  firmer  ground)  impassable,  I  ordered 
my  men  to  prepare  to  march,  and  leave  the 
tent  with  its  contents  standing,  the  point  which  I  wished  to  gain 
being  distant  only  about  five  hundred  yards.  When  the  oxen 
were  inspanned,  however,  and  we  attempted  to  move,  we  found 
my  tackle,  which  was  old,  so  rotten  from  the  effects  of  the  rain, 
that  something  gave  way  at  every  strain.  Owing  to  thifc  and  to 
17 


258  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


the  softness  of  the  vley,  we  labored  on  till  sundown,  a  ad  L/ily  ssc- 
cee^ded  in  bringing  one  wagon  to  its  destination,  the  other  two  re- 
maining fast  in  the  mud  in  the  middle  of  the  vley.  Next  morning, 
'.uckily,  the  weather  cleared  up,  when  my  men  brought  over  the 
tent,  and  in  the  afternoon  the  other  two  wagons. 

We  followed  up  the  banks  of  the  river  for  several  days  with 
the  usual  allowance  of  sport.  On  the  16th  we  came  suddenly  upon 
an  immense  old  bull  muchocho  rolling  in  mud.  He  sprang  to  his 
feet  immediately  he  saw  me,  and  charging  up  the  bank,  so  frightened 
our  horses,  that  before  I  could  get  my  rifle  from  my  after-rider  he 
was  past  us.  I  then  gave  him  chase,  and  after  a  hard  gallop  of 
about  a  mile,  sprang  from  my  horse  and  gave  him  a  good  shot 
behind  the  shoulder.  At  this  moment  a  cow  rhinoceros  of  the 
same  species,  with  her  calf,  charged  out  of  some  wait-a-bit  thorn  . 
cover,  and  stood  right  in  my  path.  Observing  that  she  carried  an 
unusually  long  horn,  I  turned  my  attention  from  the  bull  to  her, 
and,  after  a  very  long  and  severe  chase,  dropped  her  at  the  sixth 
shot.  I  carried  one  of  my  rifles,  which  gave  me  much  trouble, 
that  not  being  the  tool  required  for  this  sort  of  work,  where  quick 
loading  is  indispensable. 

After  breakfast  I  sent  men  to  cut  off  the  head  of  this  rhinoceros, 
and  proceeded  with  Ruyter  to  take  up  the  spoor  of  the  bull 
wounded  in  the  morning.  We  found  that  he  was  very  severely 
hit,  and  having  followed  the  spoor  for  about  a  mile  through  very 
dense  thorn  cover,  he  suddenly  rustled  out  of  the  bushes  close 
ahead  of  us,  accompanied  by  a  whole  host  of  rhinoceros  birds.  1 
mounted  my  horse  and  gave  him  chase,  and  in  a  few  minutes  he 
hud  received  four  severe  shots.  I  managed  to  turn  his  course 
toward  camp,  when  I  ceased  firing,  as  he  seemed  to  be  nearly 
done  up,  and  Ruyter  and  I  rode  slowly  behind,  occasionally  shout- 
ing to  guide  his  course.  Presently,  however,  Chukuroo  ceased 
taking  any  notice  of  us,  and  held  leisurely  on  for  the  river,  into  a 
shallow  part  of  which  he  walked,  and  after  panting  there  anc? 
turning  about  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  he  fell  over  and  expired. 
This  was  a  remarkably  fine  old  bull,  and  from  his  dentition  it  was 
*ot  improbable  that  a  hundred  summers  had  seen  him  roaming  a 


fHi      its, 

b&^SSSfe' 


HUNTING   THE   BUFFALO.  261 


peaceful  denzien  of  ihe  forests  and  open   glades  along  the   fail 
banks  of  the  secluded  Mariqua. 

During  our  march  on  the  19th  we  had  to  cross  a  range  of  very 
rocky  hills,  covered  with  large  loose  stones,  and  all  hands  were 
required  to  be  actively  employed  for  about  an  hour  in  clearing 
them  out  of  the  way  to  permit  the  wagons  to  pass.  The  work 
went  on  fast  and  furious,  and  the  quantity  of  stones  cleared 
was  immense.  At  length  we  reached  the  spot  where  we  were 
obliged  to  bid  adieu  to  the  Mariqua,  and  hold  a  westerly  course 
across  the  country  for  Sicheley.  At  sundown  we  halted  under  a 
io/ty  mountain,  the  highest  in  the  district,  called  "Lynche  a 
Cheny,"  or  the  Monkey's  Mountain. 

Next  day,  at  an  early  hour,  I  rode  out  with  Ruyter  to  hunt,  my 
camp  being  entirely  without  flesh,  and  we  having  been  rationed 
upon  very  tough  old  rhinoceros  for  several  days  past.  It  was  a 
cloudy  morning,  and  soon  after  starting  it  came  on  to  rain  heavily. 
1,  however,  held  on,  skirting  a  fine,  well- wooded  range  of  moun- 
tains, and  after  riding  several  miles  t  shot  a  zebra.  Having  covered 
the  carcass  well  over  with  branches  to  protect  it  from  the  vultures, 
I  returned  to  camp,  and  inspanning  my  wagons,  took  it  up  on 
the  march.  We  continued  trekking  on  until  sundown,  when  we 
started  an  immense  herd  of  buffaloes,  into  which  I  stalked  and  shot 
a  huge  old  bull. 

Our  march  this  evening  was  through  the  most  beautiful  country  I 
had  ever  seen  in  Africa.  We  skirted  an  endless  range  of  well- wooded 
stony  mountains  lying  on  our  left,  while  to  our  right  the  country 
at  first  sloped  gently  off,  and  then  stretched  away  into  a  level 
green  forest  (-occasionally  interspersed  with  open  glades),  boundless 
as  the  ocean.  This  green  forest  was,  however,  relieved  in  one 
direction  by  a  chain  of  excessively  bold,  detached,  well-wooded, 
rocky,  pyramidal  mountains, which  stood  forth  in  grand  relief.  In 
advance  the  picture  was  bounded  by  forest  and  mountain  ;  one  bold 
acclivity,  in  shape  of  a  dome,  standing  prominent  among  its  fellows 
It  was  a  lovely  evening :  the  sky  overcast  and  gloomy,  threw  an 
'ntcresting,  wild,  mysterious  coloring  over  the  landscape.  I  gazed 
forth  upon  the  romantic  scene  before  me  with  intense  delight,  and 


262  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


felt  melancholy  and  sorrowful  at  passing  so  fleetingly  through  it, 
and  couid  no£  help  shouting  out,  as  I  marched  along,  «  Where  a 
the  coward  who  would  not  dare  to  die  for  such  a  land  ?" 

In  the  morning  we  held  for  a  fountain  some  miles  ahead  in  a 
gorge  in  the  mountains.  As  we  approached  the  fountain,  and 
were  passing  close  under  a  steep  rocky  hill  side,  well  wooded  to 
its  summit,  I  unexpectedly  beheld  a  lion  stealing  up  the  rocky  face, 
and,  halting  behind  a  tree,  he  stood  overhauling  us  for  some 
minutes.  I  resolved  to  give  him  battle,  and  seizing  my  rifle, 
marched  against  him,  followed  by  Carey  carrying  a  spare  gun, 
and  by  three  men  leading  my  dogs,  now  reduced  to  eight.  When 
we  got  close  in  to  the  base  of  the  mountain,  we  found  ourselves 
enveloped  in  dense  jungle,  which  extended  halfway  to  its  summit, 
and  entirely  obscured  from  our  eyes  objects  which  were  quite  ap- 
parent from  the  wagons.  I  slipped  my  dogs,  however,  which, 
after  snuffing  about,  took  right  up  the  steep  face  on  the  spoor  of 
the  lions,  for  there  was  a  troop  of  them — a  lion  and  three  lionesses. 

The  people  at  the  wagons  saw  the  chase  in  perfection.  When 
the  lions  observed  the  dogs  coming  on,  they  took  right  up,  and 
three  of  them  crossed  over  the  sky  ridge.  The  dogs,  however, 
turned  one  rattling  old  lioness,  which  came  rumbling  down  through 
the  cover,  close  past  me.  I  ran  to  meet  her,  and  she  came  to  bay 
in  an  open  spot  near  the  base  of  the  mountain,  whither  I  quickly 
followed,  and  coming  up  within  thirty  yards,  bowled  her  over  with 
my  first  shot,  which  broke  her  back.  My  second  entered  her 
shoulder ;  and  fearing  that  she  might  hurt  any  of  the  dogs,  as  she 
still  evinced  signs  of  life,  I  finished  her  with  a  third  in  the  bieast. 
The  bellies  of  all  the  four  lions  were  much  distended  by  some 
game  they  had  been  gorging,  no  doubt  a  buffalo,  as  a  large  herd 
started  out  of  the  jungle  immediately  under  the  spot  where  the 
noble  beasts  were  first  disturbed. 

Showers  of  rain  fell  every  hour  throughout  the  24th,  so  I  em- 
ployed my  men  in  making  feldt-schoens,  or,  in  other  words,  African 
brogues  for  me.  These  shoes  were  worthy  of  a  sportsman,  being 
light,  yet  strong,  and  were  entirely  composed  of  the  skins  of  game 
of  my  shooting.  The  soles  were  made  of  either  buffiilo  or  camel- 


3S&&«&&f      ,-_  "  WCOV4. 


HUNTING  THE  BUFFALO  266 

oprd  .  the  front  part  perhaps  of  koodoo,  or  hartebeest,  or  bushbuck 
r>nd  the  back  of  the  shoe  of  lion,  or  hyaana,  or  sabln  antelope,  while 
the  rheimpy  or.  thread  with  which  the  whole  was  sewed  consisted 
of  a  th;n  strip  of  the  skin  of  a  steinbok. 

On  the  forenoon  of  the  26th  I  rode  forth  to  hunt,  accompanied 
by  Ruyter ;  we  held  west,  skirting  the  wooded  stony  mountains. 
The  natives  had  here  many  years  before  waged  successful  war 
with  elephants,  four  of  whose  skulls  I  found.  Presently  I  camo 
across  two  sassaybies,  one  of  which  I  knocked  over ;  but  while  I 
was  loading  he  regained  his  legs  and  made  off.  We  crossed  a 
level  stretch  of  forest,  holding  a  northerly  course  for  an  opposite 
range  of  green,  well-wooded  hills  and  valleys.  Here  I  came  upon  a 
noop  of  six  fine  old  bull  buffaloes,  into  which  I  stalked,  and  wounded 
one  princely  fellow  very  severely  behind  the  shoulder,  bringing 
blood  from  his  mouth ;  he,  however,  made  off  with  his  comrades,  and, 
the  ground  being  very  rough  we  failed  to  overtake  him.  They 
held  for  the  Ngotwani.  After  following  the  spoor  for  a  couple  of 
miles,  we  dropped  it,  as  it  led  right  away  from  camp. 

Returning  from  this  chase,  we  had  an  adventure  with  another 
old  bull  buffalo,  which  shows  the  extreme  danger  of  hunting  buf- 
faloes without  dogs.  We  started  him  in  a  green  hollow  among 
the  hills,  and  his  course  inclining  for  camp,  I  gave  him  chase. 
He  crossed  the  level  broad  strath  and  made  for  the  opposite  dense- 
ly-wooded range  of  mountains.  Along  the  base  of  these  we 
followed  him,  sometimes  in  view,  sometimes  on  the  spoor,  keeping 
the  eld  fellow  at  a  pace  which  made  him  pant.  Ai  length,  finding 
himself  much  distressed,  he  had  recourse  to  a  singular  stratagem. 
Doubling  round  some  thick  bushes  which  obscured  him  from  our 
view,  he  found  himself  beside  a  small  pool  of  rain  water,  just  deep 
enough  to  cover  his  body  ;  into  this  he  walked,  and,  facing  about, 
lay  gently  down  and  awaited  our  on-coming,  with  nothing  but  h»* 
old  grey  face  and  massive  horns  above  the  water,  and  these  con- 
cealed ,Yom  view  by  rank  overhanging  herbage. 

Our  attention  was  entirely  engrossed  with  the  spoor,  and  thus 
we  rode  boldly  on  until  within  a  few  feet  of  him,  when  springing 
to  his  feet,  he  made  a  desperate  charge  after  Ruyter,  uttei.ngf 


266  HUNTING     ADVKXTTTKE8. 


low,  stifled  roar  peculiar  to  buffaloes  (somewhat  similar  to  tne  giowl 
of  a  lion),  and  hurled  horse  and  rider  to  the  earth  with  fearful  vio- 
lence. His  horn  laid  the  poor  horse's  haunch  open  to  the  bone, 
making  the  most  fearful  rugged  wound.  In  an  instant  Ruyter  re 
gained  his  feet  and  ran  for  his  life,  which  the  buffalo  observing,, 
gave  chase,  hut  most  fortunately  came  down  with  a  tremendous 
somersault  in  the  mud,  his  feet  slipping  fnm  under  him  ;  thus  the 
Bushman  escaped  certain  destruction.  The  buffalo  rose  much 
discomfited,  and,  the  wounded  horse  first  catching  his  eye.  he 
went  a  second  time  after  him,  but  he  got  out  of  the  way.  At  this 
moment  I  managed  to  send  one  of  my  patent  pacificating  piils  into  his 
shoulder,  when  he  instantly  quitted  the  field  of  action,  and  sought 
shelter  in  a  dense  cover  on  the  mountain  side,  whither  I  deemed 
it  imprudent  to  follow  him. 


HUNTING    THE    ELEHIAXT 


AFRICAN  ELEPHANT. 

CHAPTER  XLVII. 

ELEPHANT  HUNTING  BY  MOONLIGHT, 
the  17th  of  September,  says  Mr.  Gumming,  I  resolved  to 
leave  the  fountain  of  Seboono,  as  it  was  much  disturbed,  and 
to  proceed  with  a  few  Bakalahari  to  a  small  yet  famous  water 
about  six  miles  to  the  southeast.  We  accordingly  saddled  up 
and  held  thither.  On  reaching  this  fountain,  which  is  called  by 
the  natives  "  Paapaa,"  I  found  the  numerous  foot-paths  leading  to 
it  covered,  as  I  had  anticipated,  with  fresh  spoor  of  elephant  and 
rhinoceros.  I  then  at  once  proceeded  to  study  the  best  spot  on 
which  to  make  our  shooting-hole  for  the  night.  It  would  be  im- 
possible to  prevent  some  of  the  game  from  getting  our  wind,  for 
the  foot-paths  led  to  it  from  every  side.  The  prevailing  wind  was 
from  the  east,  so  I  pitched  upon  the  southwest  corner  of  the  foun- 
tain. The  water  was  not  more  than  twenty  yards  long  and  ten 
broad.  The  west  side  was  bounded  by  tufous  rock,  which  rose 
abruptly  from  the  water  about  five  feet  high.  The  top  of  this 


268  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


reck  was  level  ^ith  the  surrounding  vJey,  and  here  a  1  the 
elephants  drank,  as  if  suspicious  of  treading  on  the  muddy  margin 
on  the  other  three  sides  of  the  fountain.  I  made  our  shooting  box 
within  six  or  eight  yards  of  the  water,  constructing  it  in  a  circular 
form,  of  bushes  packed  together  so  as  to  form  a  hedge  about  three 
feet  high.  On  the  top  of  the  hedge  I  placed  heavy  dead  old 
branches  of  trees,  so  as  to  form  a  fine  clear  rest  for  our  rifles; 
these  clean  old  brunches  were  all  lashed  firmly  together  with 
strips  of  thorn  bark.  All  being  completed,  I  took  the  Bakalahari 
and  cur  steeds  to  a  shady  tree,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  lee- 
ward of  the  fountain,  where  we  found  a  kraal  and  off-saddled. 
This  day  was  particularly  adapted  to  bring  game  to  the  water, 
the  sun  being  extremely  powerful,  and  a  hot  dry  wind  prevailing 
all  the  afternoon.  I.  told  Carey  that  we  were  certain  of  having  a 
good  night's  sport,  and  I  was  right,  for  we  undoubtedly  had  about 
the  finest  night's  sport  and  the  most  wonderful  that  was  ever 
enjoyed  by  man. 

A  little  before  the  sun  went  down,  leaving  our  kraal,  we  held 
to  the  fountain,  having  with  us  our  heavy-metaled  rifles,  karosses, 
and  two  Bakalahari.  We  also  had  two  small  guns,  my  double 
barreled  Westley  Richards,  and  Carey's  single-barreled  gun.  As 
we  approached  the  fountain,  a  stately  bull  giraffe  stood  before  us ; 
the  heat  of  the  day  had  brought  him  thither,  but  he  feared  to  go 
in  and  drink ;  on  observing  us,  he  walked  slowly  away.  Two 
jackals  were  next  detected.  Guinea-fowl,  partridges,  two  or 
three  sorts  of  pigeon  and  turtle-dove,  and  small  birds  in  countless 
thousands,  were  pciring  in  to  drink  from  every  airt,  as  we  walked 
up  to  our  hiding-place  and  lay  down.  In  a  few  minutes  the  sun 
was  under;  but  the  moon  was  strong  and  high  (it  being  within 
thiee  nights  of  the  full),  and  the  sky  was  clear,  with  scarcely  a 
cloud.  Very  soon  a  step  was  heard  approaching  from  the  east : 
it  was  a  presuming  black  rhinoceros.  He  Came  up  within  ten 
yards  of  the  hiding-hole,  and,  observing  us  with  his  sharp  prying 
eye,  at  once  came  slowly  forward  for  a  nearer  inspection.  I  then 
shouted  to  him  ;  but  this  he  did  not  heed  in  the  slightest.  I  then 
sprang  up  and  waved  my  large  kaross,  shouting  at  the  same  time 


HUNTING    THE    ELEPHANT.  271 


This,  however,  only  seemed  to  amuse  Borele,  for  he  stood  within 
four  yards  of  us,  with  his  horn  threatening  our  momentary  destruc- 
tion, nor  would  he  wheel  about  until  I  threw  a  log  of  wood  at 
him.  Black  rhinoceroses  are  very  difficult  to  scare  when  they  do 
not  get  the  wind :  the  best  way  to  do  so  is  to  hit  them  with  a 
stone — that  is,  in  the  event  of  the  sportsman  not  wishing  to  fire 
off'  his  gun. 

Soon  after  Borele  departed  four  old  bull  e'er  Jin  nts  drew  near 
from  the  south.  They  were  coming  right  on  for  the  spot  where 
we  lay,  and  they  seemed  very  likely  to  walk  over  the  top  of  us. 
We  therefore  placed  our  two  big  rifles  in  position,  and  awaited 
their  forward  movement  with  intense  interest.  On  they  came, 
with  a  slow  and  stately  step,  until  within  twenty  yards  of  us, 
when  the  leading  elephant  took  it  into  his  head  to  pass  to  leeward. 
We  let  him  come  on  until  he  got  our  wind ;  he  was  then  within 
ten  yards  of  the  muzzles  of  our  heavy-metaled  rifles  ;  on  winding 
us,  he  tossed  his  trunk  aloft,  and  we  instantly  fired  together.  I 
caught  him  somewhere  about  the  heart,  and  my  big  six-pound 
rifle  burst  in  Carey's  hands,  very  nearly  killing  us  both.  The 
elephant,  on  being  fired  at,  wheeled  about,  and  retreated  to  the 
forest  at  top  speed.  I  now  directed  "  Stick-in-the-mud"  to  make 
use  of  his  single-barreled  twelve  to  the  pound  in  the  event  of 
more  elephants  coming  up  ;  and  thanking  my  stars  that  the  old 
Dutch  rifle  had  not  sent  us  both  to  the  land  of  the  leal,  I  sat  down 
and  watched  the  dark  masses  of  trees  that  cut  the. sky  on  every 
side,  in  the  hope  of  seeing  a  mass  as  high  and  wide  come  towering 
forward  into  the  open  space  that  surrounded  the  fountain. 

Nor  did  I  watch  Jong  in  vain,  for  very  scon  three  princely  bull 
elephants  appeared  exactly  where  the  first  came  on,  and  holding 
exactly  the  same  course.  They  approached  just  as  the  first  had 
done.  When  the  leading  elephant  came  within  ten  yards  of  us, 
he  got  our  wind  and  t'-ssed  up  his  trunk,  and  was  wheeling  round 
,o  retreat,  wht^n  we  fired  together,  and  sent  our  bullets  somewhere 
about  his  heart.  He  ran  two  hundred  yards  and  then  stood,  being 
evidently  dying.  His  comrades  halted  likewise,  but  one  of  them, 
»he  finest  <  f  t!^e  three,  almost  immediately  turned  his  head  once 


272  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


more  to  the  fountain,  and  very  slowly  and  warily  came  on.  Wa 
now  heard  the  wounded  elephant  utter  the  cry  of  death,  and  fal 
heavily  on  the  earth.  Carey,  whose  ears  were  damaged  ty  thf 
bursting  of  the  big  rifle,  did  not  catch  this  sound,  but  swcre  that 
the  elephant  which  now  so  stealthily  approached  the  water  was 
the  one  at  which  we  had  fired. 

It  was  interesting  to  observe  this  grand  old  bull  approach  the 
fountain :  he  seemed  to  mistrust  the  very  earth  on  which  he  stood, 
and  smelt  and  examined  with  his  trunk  every  yard  of  the  ground 
before  he  trod  on  it,  and  sometimes  stood  five  minutes  on  one  spot 
without  moving.  At  length,  having  gone  round  three  sides  of  the 
fountain,  and  being  apparently  satisfied  as  to  the  correctness  of 
every  thing,  he  stepped  boldly  forward  on  to  the  rock  on  the  west, 
and,  walking  up  within  six  or  seven  yards  of  the  muzzles  of  our 
rifles,  turned  his  broadside,  and,  lowering  his  trunk  into  the  water, 
drew  up  a  volume  of  water,  which  he  threw  over  his  back  and 
shoulders  to  cool  his  person.  This  operation  he  repeated  two  or 
three  times,  after  which  he  commenced  drinking,  by  drawing  the 
water  into  his  trunk  and  then  pouring  it  into  his  mouth.  I  deter- 
mined to  break  his  leg  if  possible ;  so,  covering  the  limb  about 
level  with  the  lower  line  of  his  body,  I  fired,  Carey  firing  for  his 
heart.  I  made  a  lucky  shot ;  and,  as  the  elephant  turned  and 
attempted  to  make  away,  his  leg  broke  with  a  loud  crack,  and  he 
stood  upon  his  three  sound  ones.  At  once  disabled  and  utterly 
incapable  of  escaping,  he  stood  statue-like  beside  the  fountain, 
within  a  few  yards  of  where  he  had  got  the  shot,  and  only  occa- 
sionally made  an  attempt  at  locomotion. 

The  patch  of  my  rifle,  fired  at  this  elephant's  comrade,  had 
Ignited  a  large  ball  of  dry  old  dung,  about  eight  yards  to  leeward 
of  our  kraal,  and,  fanned  by  the  breeze,  it  was  now  burning  away 
very  brightly,  the  sparks  flying  in  the  wind.  Presently,  on  look- 
ing about  me,  I  beheld  two  bull  elephants  approaching  by  the  self- 
same foot-path  which  the  others  had  held.  The  first  of  these  was 
a  half-grown  bull,  the  last  was  an  out-and-out  old  fellow  with 
enormous  tusks.  They  came  on  as  the  first  had  done,  but  seemed 
incliued  to  pass  to  v/indvvard  of  us.  The  young  bull,  houevec 


HUNTING    THE    ELEPHANT.  273 


observed  the  fire  ;  he  at  once  walked  up  to  it,  and,  smelling  ;U  if. 
with  his  trunk,  seemed  extremely  amused,  and  in  a  gamboling 
humor  threw  his  trunk  about,  as  if  not  knowing  what  to  think  of. 
it.  The  larger  bull  now  came  up,  and  exposed  a  fine  broadside  : 
we  took  h;m  behind  the  shoulder  and  fired  together:  on  receiving 
the  shots,  he  wheeled  about  and  held  west  with  droo.  ing  ears, 
evidently  mortally  wounded. 

Some  time  after  this  I  detected  an  enormous  old  bull  elephant 
approaching  from  the  west.  If  we  lay  still  where  we  were,  he 
must  in  a  few  minutes  get  our  wind,  so  we  jumped  up  and  ran 
forward  out  of  his  line  of  march.  Here  a  borele  opposed  our  fur- 
ther progress,  and  we  had  to  stone  him  out  of  our  way.  The 
elephant  came  on,  and  presently  got  the  wind  of  where  we  had 
been  lying.  This  at  once  seemed  to  awake  his  suspicions,  for  he 
stood  still  among  the  trees,  stretching  his  trunk  from  side  to  side 
to  catch  the  scent,  and  doubtful  whether  he  should  advance  or 
retreat.  We  then  ran  toward  him,  and  stalked  in  within  forty 
yards  of  where  he  stood,  and,  taking  up  a  position  behind  a  bush, 
awaited  his  forward  movement.  The  elephant  came  slowly  for- 
ward, and  I  thought  would  pass  to  windward  of  us,  when  he  sud- 
denly altered  his  course,"  and  walked  boldly  forward  right  for 
where  we  stood.  He  came  on  until  within  seven  or  eight  yards, 
when  I  coughed  loudly  to  turn  him.  He  tossed  up  his  trunk  and 
turned  quickly  round  to  fly ;  as  he  turned,  however,  we  fired 
together,  when  the  elephant  uttered  a  shrill  cry  of  distress,  and 
crashed  away,  evidently  hard  hit.  When  this  bull  was  standing 
before  us,  we  both  remarked  that  he  was  the  finest  we  had  seen 
that  night :  his  tusks  were  extremely  long,  thick,  and  very  un- 
usually wide  set. 

We  now  returned  to  the  fountain,  and  once  more  lay  down  to 
watch.  Rhinoceroses,  both  black  and  white,  were  parading 
around  us  all  night  in  every  direction.  We  had  lain  but  a  short 
titne  when  I  detected  a  single  old  bull  elephant  approaching  from 
the  south  by  the  same  path  which  all  the  others  had  held.  This 
elephant  must  have  been  very  thirsty,  for  he  came  boldly  on  with- 
out any  hesitation  ;  and,  keeping  to  windward,  walked  pist  within 
18 


274 


about  eight  yards  of  us.  We  fired  at  the  same  moment  ;  th« 
elephant  wheeled  about,  and;  after  running  a  hundred  yards 
reduced  his  pace  to  a  slow  walk.  I  clapped  Carey  on  the 
shoulder,  and  said,  '"  We  have  him."  1  had  hardly  uttered  the 
words  when  he  fell  over  oh  his  side  ;  he  rose,  however,  again  to 
his  feet.  At  this  moment  the  same  presuming  borele  who  had 
troubled  us  in  the  early  part  of  the  night,  came  up  to  us  again, 
and,  declining  as  before  to  depart  by  gentle  hints,  I  thought  it  a 
h'ting  moment  to  put  an  end  to  his  intrusion,  and  accordingly 
gave  him  a  ball  behind  the  shoulder.  On  receiving  it,  he  galloped 
off  in  tremendous  consternation,  and  passed  close  under  the  dying 
elephant,  who  at  the  moment  .fell  dead  with  a  heavy  crash,  and 
broke  one  of  his  hind  legs  under  him  in  the  fall. 

About  an  hour  after  two  more  elephants  came  towering  on  from 
the  east.  When  they  came  up  they  stood  for  a  long  time  motion- 
less within  forty  yards  of  the  water  ;  and  at  length  the  finer  of 
the  two,  which  was  a  very  first-rate  old  bull,  and  carrying  im- 
mense tusks,  walked  boldly  forward,  and  passing  round  the  north 
side  of  the  fountain,  commenced  drinking  on  the  rock  just  as  the 
crippled  bull  had  done.  We  both  fired  together,  holding  for  his 
heart  ;  the  bullets  must  have  gone  nearly  through  him,  for  we 
had  double  charges  of  powder  in  our  weapons.  On  receiving  the 
shots  he  dropped  a  volume  of  water  from  his  trunk,  and,  tossing  it 
aloft,  uttered  a  loud  cry  and  made  ofF,  steering  north  ;  but  before 
he  was  out  of  our  sight  he  reduced  his  pace  to  a  slow  walk,  and 
I  could  quite  plainly  hear,  by  the  loud,  painful  breathing  through 
nis  trunk,  that  he  was  mortally  wounded  ;  but  whether  the  natives 
were  too  lazy  to  seek  him,  or  h  iving  found  him  would  not  tell  me, 
I  know  not,  but  I  never  got  him.  We  shot  another  bull  elephant 
shortly  after  this  ;  he  too  uttered  a  shrill  cry,  and  went  off  holding 
the  same  course  the  last  one  did  ;  that  was,  however,  all  that  I 
ever  saw  of  him. 

It  was  now  wearing  on  toward  morning  :  the  moon  was  low 
and  the  sky  was  cloudy  ;  and  feeling  very  sleepy,  I  set  the  t'.vo 
Bakalahari  to  watch  while  I  lay  down  to  rest.  Carey  was  already 
enjoying  a  sound  sleep,  and  snoring  loudly.  I  had  lain  nearly  an 


HUNTING  THE  ELEPHANT.  275 


hour,  and  was  neither  waking  nor  sleeping,  when  the  Bakalahari 
whispered,  "  Clou  toona,  macoa,"  which  signifies  {(  Bull  elephants 
white  man."  I  sat  up  on  my  kaross,  and  heheld  three  old  bulls 
approaching  from  the  west.  At  this  moment  there  was  a  death- 
like calm  in  the  atmosphere,  and  the  sky  looked  very  threatening 
all  along  the  mountain  range  which  bounds  this  favorit*  elephant 
district  on  the  southwest.  I  greatly  feared  a  thunder-storm 
Suddenly  a  breeze  came  whistling  from  the  mountains,  and  gave 
these  three  elephants  our  wind.  We  then  left  the  fountain  and 
held  to  our  wagons,  where  we  slept  till  the  sun  rose. 

When  the  sun  rose  I  proceeded  with  the  Bakalahari  to  inspect 
the  spoors  of  the  wounded  elephants.  I  was  struck  with  astonish- 
ment when  I  thought  over  our  night's  sport :  nine  times  had  first- 
rate  old  bull  elephants  come  up  to  drink,  and  we  had  fired  at 
eight  of  these  at  distances  of  from  six  to  ten  yards,  with  cool, 
steady  rests.  Two  of  them  lay  dead  beside  the  fountain  ;  another 
had  a  broken  leg,  and  could  not  escape ;  and  the  only  one  which 
we  imagined  had  escaped  was  the  bull  with  the  wide-set  tusks, 
which  we  both  felt  certain  was  wounded  too  far  back  in  the  body. 
The  event,  however,  proved  that  our  expectations  were  incorrect, 
for  that  afternoon  We  found  this  princely  elephant  lying  dead  very 
near  our  kraal.  Both  our  shots  were  very  far  back,  wounding 
him  somewhere  about  the  kidneys.  We  never  saw  any  thing  of 
the  four  other  elephants  shot  by  us.  The  bull  with  the  broken 
leg  had 'gone  nearly  a  mile  from  the  fountain  when  we  came  up 
to  him.  At  first  he  made  vain  attempts  to  escape,  and  then  tc 
charge  ;  but  finding  he  could  neither  escape  nor  catch  any  of  us, 
he  stood  at  bay  beside  a  tree,  and  my  after-riders  began  to  assail 
him.  It  was  curious  to  watch  his  movements  as  the  boys,  al 
about  twenty  yards'  distance,  pelted  him  with  sticks,  &c.  Each 
thing,  as  it  was  thrown,  he  took  up  and  hurled  back  at  tnem. 
When,  however,  dry  balls  of  elephants'  dung  were  pitched  at 
him,  he  contented  himself  with  smelling  at  them  with  his  trunk. 
At  length,  wishing  to  put  an  end  to  his  existence,  I  gave  him  four 
shots  behind  the  shoulder,  when  he  at  once  exhibited  signs  of  dis- 
tvt'ss  ;  water  ran  from  his  eyes,  and  he  could  barely  keep  them 


»76  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


open  ;  presently  his  gigantic  form  quivered,  and,  fa /ling  over,  h« 
expired.  At  night  we  again  watched  the  fountain.  Only  one 
elephant  appeared  ;  late  in  the  night  he  came  up  to  leeward,  and 
got  our  wind.  I,  however,  shot  two  fine  old  muchocho,  or  white 
rhinoceroses,  and  wounded  twd  or  three  borele,  which  were  found 
by  the  natives. 

On  the  19th  I  proceeded  with  Carey  and  Piet, and  a  few  Baka- 
lahari,  to  a  small  fountain  lying  one  mile  to  the  south :  here  we 
made  two  shooting-boxes  of  boughs  of  trees.  There  were  three 
pools  at  which  the  game  drank,  the  largest  not  being  more  than 
twelve  feet  in  breadth.  I  and  Carey  at  night  shot  one  fine  bull 
elephant  and  four  rhinoceroses,  wounding  two  others,  which 
escaped.  On  the  night  following  we  also  wounded  two  elephants, 
which  got  away. 

The  next  night  I  put  in  practice  a  novel  experiment  I  had  long 
entertained — that  of  hunting  elephants  by  moonlight  with  dogs 
and  horses,  as  in  the  day,  being  very  much  annoyed  at  wounding 
and  losing  in  the  last  week  no  less  than  ten  first-rate  old  bull 
elephants.  I  communicated  my  idea  to  "  Stick-in-the-mud,"  and 
we  hastily  proceeded  to  saddle  my  steed.  I  led  my  dogs,  eight 
in  number,  through  the  forest  to  leeward  of  where  a  bull  who  had 
come  to  the  fountain  to  drink  had  gone  in,  and  when  I  saw  that 
they  had  got  his  wind  I  slipped  them.  '  They  dashed  forward, 
and  next  minute  I  followed  the  baying  of  the  dogs  and  the  crash 
and  the  trumpet  of  the  elephant.  He  rushed  away  at  first  w:th- 
out  halting,  and  held  right  for  the  mountains  to  the  southwest. 
When,  however,  he  found  that  his  speed  did  not  avail,  and  that 
he  could  not  get  away  from  his  pursuers,  he  began  to  turn  and 
dodge  about  in  the  thickest  of  \he  cover,  occasionally  making 
charges  after  the  dogs.  I  followed  on  as  best  I  could,  shouting 
with  all  my  might  to  encourage  my  good  hounds.  These,  hear- 
ing their  master's  voice  beside  them,  stuck  well  by  the  ewphant, 
and  fought  him  better  than  in  the  day.  I  gave  him  my  first  two 
shots  from  the  saddle  ;  after  which,  I  rode  close  up  to  him,  and, 
running  in  on  foot,  gave  him  some  deadly  shots  at  distances  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  yards. 


HUNTING    THE    KLKPll AM.  _  -14 

The  elephant  very  soon  evinced  signs  of  distress,  and  ceased  t" 
make  away- from  us.  Taking  up  positions  in  the  densest  parts  of 
the  cover,  he  caught  up  the  red  dust  with  his  trunk,  and  throwing 
it  over  his  head  and  back,  endeavored  to  conceal  himself  in  a 
cloud.  This  was  a  fine  opportunity  to  pour  in  my  deadly  shafts, 
and  I  took  care  to  avail  myself  of  it.  When  he  had  received 
about  twelve  shots,  he  walked  slowly  forward  in  a  dying  state, 
the  blood  streaming  from  his  trunk.  I  rode  close  up  to  him,  arid 
gave  him  a  sharp  right  ami  left  from  the  saddle:  he  turned  and 
walked  a  few  yards,  then  suddenly  came  down  with  tremendous 
violence  on  his  vast  stern,  pitching  his  head  and  trunk  aloft  to  a 
prodigious  height,  and,  falling  heavily  over  on  his  side,  expired. 
This  was  an  extremely  large  and  handsome  elephant,  decidedly 
the  finest  bull  I  had  shot  this  year.  Afraid  of  taking  cold  or 
rheumatism,  for  I  was  in  a  most  profuse  perspiration,  I  hastened 
back  to  my  fire-side,  having  first  secured  all  the  dogs  in  their 
couples.  Here  I  divested  myself  of  my  leather  trowsers,  shooting- 
belt,  and  veldt-schoens,  and,  stretched  on  my  karcss,  I  took  tea, 
and  wondered  at  the  facility  with  which  I  had  captured  thir 
mighty  elephant. 

Feeling  fatigued,  I  intended  to  lie  down  and  rest  till  morning. 
Just,  however,  as  I  was  arranging  rny  saddles  for  a  pillow,  1  be- 
held another  first-rate  old  bull  elephant  advancing  up  the  vlry 
from  the  south.  I  at  once  resolved  that  ke,  too,  should  run  the 
gauntlet  with  the  dogs.  In  immense  haste,  tnerefore,  I  once  more 
pulled  on  my  old  leathers,  and  buckled  en  my  shooting-belt,  and 
ran  down  into  the  rank  long  grass  beside  the  fountain  to  meet  h.m, 
armed  with  the  large  two-grooved  rifle,  having  directed  Caiey 
and  Piet  to  come  slowly  up  with  the  dogs  and  my  horse  and  gun 
as  soon  as  they  were  ready.  The  elephant  came  on,  and  stocd 
drinking  within  thirty  yards  of  me.  When  I  saw  Carey  coming 
on  with  the  dogs  and  steed,  I  fired,  but  my  rifle  hung  fire.  The 
shot,  however,  gave  the  dogs  good  courage,  and  they  fought  well 
The  elephant  took  away  at  a  rapid  p  ce  toward  the  other  foun- 
tain where  the  Bechuanas  lay,  and  at  first  led  me  through  very 
bad  wait-a-bit  thorn  cover,  which  once  or  twice  nearly  swept  me 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


out  of  the  saddle  Presently  he  inclined  to  the  west,  and  got  /nto 
better  country ;  1  then  rode  close  to  him,  and  bowled  him  ovei 
with  lour  shots. 

The  next  morning,  my  ammunition  being  expended,  or  very 
nearly  so,  1  dispatched  Carey  to  camp  for  fresh  supplies.  After. 
he  had  gone  I  walked  through  the  forest,  when  I  observed  "Fro- 
chum"  snuff  up  the  wind  and  go  ahead.  I  soon  saw  him  return- 
ing, with  two  jackals  trotting  behind  him,  so  I  at  once  knew  that 
there  was  some  game  lying  dea'd  in  advance.  When  I  had  pro- 
ceeded a  little  further  the  dogs  ran  forward,  and  next  moment  a 
rush  oj  many  feet  was  heard  charging  toward  where  I  stood.  It 
was  a  troop  of  half-grown  lions,  with  a  lioness,  which  dashed  past 
me,  followed  by  the  dogs.  They  had  been-  feasting  on  a  white 
rhinoceros,  shot  by  me  two  nights  previously,  which  I  found  lying 
a  little  in  advance.  Beside  the  carcase  stood  a  fine  fat  calf — the 
poor  thing,  no  doubt,  fancying  that  its  mother  slept ;  heedless  of 
lions,  and  all  the  other  creatures  that  had  trodden  there,  it  had 
remained  beside  its  dead  mother  for  a  day  and  two  nights.  Rhi- 
noceros' calves  always  stick  to  their  mothers  long  after  they  are 
dead.  The  next  night.  I  was  again  successful  in  a  night  hunt, 
and  bagged  a  very  fine  bull,  elephant.  This  wound  up  my  ele- 
phant night  shooting  for  that  moon,  for  next  day  there  was  a  mosl 
awful  thunder-storm,  which  tilled  the  forest  with  large  pools  oj 
water. 


ADVENT  UK  E    WITH    A    MONSTER    LION. 


27  * 


CHAPTER  XL VIII. 


ADVENTURE   WITH   A   MONSTER    LION. 


N  the  29th,  says  Mr.  Gumming, 
we  'arrived  at  a  small  village  ci 
-  Bakalahari.  These  natives  told  me 
that  elephants  were  abundant  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  I 
accordingly  resolved  to  halt  here  and 
hunt,  and  drew  my  wagons  up  on 
the  river's  bank,  within  thirty  yards 
of  the  water,  and  about  one  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  native  village. 
Having  outspanned,  we  at  once  se* 
about  making  for  the  cattle  a  kraa^ 
of  the  worst  description  of  thorn- 
liees  Of  this  I  had  now  become  very  particular,  since  my  severe 
loss  by  lions  on  the  first  of  this  month  ;  and  my  cattle  were,  at 
night,  secured  by  a  strong  kraal,  which  inclosed  my  two  wagons 
the  horses  being  made  fast  to  a  trek-tow  stretched  between  the  hind 
wheels  of  the  wagons  I  had  yet,  however,  a  fearful  lesson  IT 


280  HVNTTVO     ,«T>VKNTTrRES. 


learn  as  to  the  nature  and  character  of  the  lion,  of  which  I  had  at  one 
time  entertained  so  little  fear;  and  en  this  night  a  horrible  tragedy 
was  to  be  acted  in  my  little  lonely  camp,  of  so  very  appalling 
a  nature  as  to  make  the  blood  curdle  in  our  veins.  I  worked  til) 
near  sundown  at  one  side  of  the  kraal  with  Hendric,  my  first 
wagon-driver — I  cutting  down  the  trees  with  my  ax,  and  he  drag- 
ing  them  to  the  kraal.  When  the  kraal  for  the  cattle  was  finished, 
I  turned  my  attention  to  making  a  pot  of  barley-broth,  and  lighted 
my  fire  between  the  wagons  and  the  water,  close  on  the  river's 
bank,  under  a  dense  grove  of  shady  trees,  making  no  sort  of  kraal 
around  our  sitting-place  for  the  evening. 

The  Hottentots,  without  any  reason,  made  their  fire  about  fifty 
yards  from  mine ;  they  according  to  their  usual  custom,  being 
satisfied  with  the  shelter  of  a  large  dense  bush.  The  evening 
passed  away  cheerfully.  Soon  after  it  was  dark  we  heard  ele- 
phants breaking  the  trees  in  the  forest  across  the  river,  and  once 
or  twice  I  strode  away  into  the  darkness  some  distance  from  the 
fireside  to  stand  and  listen  to  them.  I  little  at  that  moment, 
deemed  of  the  imminent  peril  to  which  I  was  exposing  my  life, 
nor  thought  that  a  blood-thirsty  man-eater  lion  was  crouching  near, 
only  watching  his  opportunity  to  spring  into  the  kraal  and  ccnsijj.i 
one  of  us  to  a  most  horrible  death.  About  three  hours  after  the  suv 
went  down  I  called  to  my  men  to  come  and  take  their  coffee  HP<? 
supper,  which  was  ready  for  them  at  my  fire  ;  and  after  suppe/ 
three  of  them  returned  before  their  comrades  to  their  own  fireside 
and  lay  down ;  these  were  John  Stofolus,  Hendric,  and  Ruyter 
In  a  few  minutes  an  ox  came  out  by  th^  pate  of  the  kraal  an^ 
walked  round  the  back  of  it.  Hendric  got  up  and  drove  him  iv 
again,  and  then  went  back  to  his  fireside  and  lay  down.  .  Hendrir 
and  Ruyter  lay  on  one  side  of  the  fire  under  one  blanket,  and  John 
Stofolus  lay  on  the  other.  At  this  moment  I  was  sitting  taking 
some  barley-broth  ;  our  fire  was  very  small,  and  the  night  \van 
pitch-dark  and  windy.  Owing  to  our  proximity  to  the  native 
village  the  wood  was  very  scarce,  the  Bakahalari  having  burned 
h  all  in  their  fires. 

Suddenly  the  appaling  and  murderous  voice  of  an  angry,  blood 


ADVENTURE    WITH    A    MONSTER    LION.  'J81 


thirsty  lion  burst  upon  my  ear  within  a  few  yards  of  us,  followed 
by  the  shrieking  of  the  Hottentots.  Again  and  again  the  mur- 
derous roar  of  attack  was  repeated.  We  heard  John  and  Ruyter 
shriek  '»  The  ho  !  the  lion  !"  still,  for -a  few  moments,  we  thought 
he  was  but  chasing  one  of  the  dogs  round  the  kraal ;  but,  next 
instant,  John  Stofolus  rushed  into  the  midst  of  us  almost  speech- 
less with  fear  and  terror,  his  eyes  bursting  from  their  sockets,  and 
shrieked  out,  "The  lion!  the  lion!  He  has  got  Hendric  ;  he 
dragged  him  away  from  the  fire  beside  me.  I  struck  him 
with  the  burning  brands  upon  his  head,  but  he  would  not  let  go 
his  hold.  Hendric  is  dead  !  Oh  God  !  Hendric  is  dead  !  Let 
us  take  fire  and  seek  him  !"  The  rest  of  my  people  rushed  about, 
shrieking  and  yelling  as  if  they  were  mad.  I  was  at  once  angry 
with  the.m  for  their  folly,  and  told  them  that  if  they  did  not  stand 
still  and  keep  quiet,  the  lion  would  have  another  of  us  ;  and  that 
very  likely  there  was  a  troop  of  them.  I  ordered  the  dogs,  which 
were  nearly  all  fast,  to  be  made  loose,  and  the  fire  to  be. increased 
as  far  as  could  be.  I  then  shouted  Fiend  ric's  name,  but  all  was 
still.  I  told  my  men  that  Hendric  was  dead,  and  that  a  regiment  of 
soldiers  could  not  now  help  him,  and,  hunting  my  dogs  forward, 
I  had  every  thing  brought  within  the  cattle-kraal,  when  we  lighted 
oui  fire  and  closed  the  entrance  as  well  as  we  could. 

My  terrified  people  sat  round  the  fire  with  guns  in  their  hands 
till  the  day  broke,  still  fancying  that  every  moment  the  lion  would 
return  and  spring  again  into  the  midst  of  us.  When  the  dogs  were 
first  let  go,  the  stupid  brutes,  as  dogs  often  prove  when  most  re- 
quired, instead  of  going  at  the  lion,  rushed  fiercely  on  one  another, 
and  fought  desperately  for  some  minutes.  After  this  they  got  his 
wind,  and,  going  at  him,  disclosed  to  us  his  position  :  they  kept  up  a 
continual  barking  until  the  day  dawned,  the  lion  occasionally  spring 
ing  after  them  and  driving  them  in  upon  the  kraal.  The  hor 
rible  monster  lay  all  night  within  forty  yards  of  us,  consuming  the 
wretched  man  whom  he  had  chosen  for  his  prey.  He  had  dragged 
him  into  a  little  hollow  at  the  back  of  the  thick  bush  beside  which 
the  fire  was  kindled,  and  there  he  remained  till  the  day  dawned, 
careless  of  our  proximity. 


282  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


It  appeared  that  when  the  unfortunate  Hendric  rose  to  drive  » 
the  ox,  the  lion  had  watched  him  to  his  fireside,  and  he  h  d 
scarcely  lain  down  when  the  brute  sprang  upon  him  and  Jluyt.;r 
(for  both  lay  under  one  blanket),  with  his  appaling,  murderous 
roar,  and,  roaring  as  he  lay,  grappled  him  with  his  fearful  claws, 
and  kept  biting  him  on  the  breast  and  shoulder,  all  the  while  feel- 
ing for  his  necrt  ;  having  got  hold  of  which,  he  at  once  dragged 
him  away  backward  round  the  bush  into  the  dense  shade. 

As  the  lion  lay  upon  the  unfortunate  man  he  faintly  cried, 
"  Help  me,  help  me  !  Oh  God  !  men,  help  me  !"  After  which 
the  fearful  beast  got  a  hold  of  his  neck,  and  then  all  was  still,  except 
that  his  comrades  heard  the  bones  of  his  neck  cracking  between 
the  teeth  of  the  lion.  John  Stofolus  had  lain  with  his  back  to  the 
fire  on  the  opposite  side,  and  on  hearing  the  lion  he  sprang  up, 
and,  seizing  a  large  flaming  brand,  he  had  belabored  him  on  the 
head  with  the  burning  wood ;  but  the  brute  did  not  take  any 
notice  of  him.  The  Bushman  had  a  narrow  escape  ;  he  was  not 
altogether  scatheless,  the  lion  having  inflicted  two  gashes  in  his 
seat  with  his  claws. 

The  next  morning,  just  as  the  day  began  to  dawn,  we  heard  the 
linn  dragging  something  up  the  river  side  under  cover  of  the  bank. 
We  drove  the  cattle  out  of  the  kraal,  and  then  proceeded  to  in 
spect  the  scene  of  the  night's  awful  tragedy.  In  the  hollow, 
where  the  lion  had  lain  consuming  his  prey,  we  found  one  leg  of 
the  unfortunate  Hendric,  bitten  ofT  below  the  knee,  the  shoe  still 
on  his  foot ;  the  grass  and  bushes  were  all  stained  with  his  blood, 
and  fragments  of  his  pea-coat  lay  all  around.  Poor  Hendric  !  I  knew 
tlie  fragments  of  that  old  coat,  and  had  often  marked  them  hanging 
in  the  dense  covers  where  the  elephant  had  charged  after  my  un- 
forliinate  after-rider.  Hendric  was  by  far  the  best  man  I  had 
about  my  wagons,  of  a  most  cheerful  disposition,  a  first-rate  wagon 
driver,  fearless  in  tne  field,  ever  active,  willing,  and  obliging :  hi* 
toss  t  >  us  all  was  very  serious. 


CHAPTER  XLTX. 

• 

HUNTING  THE  BUSTARD  AND  ELAND. 

A.T  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  pays  Mr.  Gumming, 
while  I  was  yet  in  bod,  TIendric  Strydom  and  his  frau  wen;  standing 
over  my  fire,  alongside  of  my  wagon,  with  a  welcome  supply  of  sweet 
milk,  and  hurrying  on  the  indolent  Hottentots  to  prepare  iuy  break- 
fast, and  rouse  their  slothful  master^  the  earliest  dawn  being,  as  he 
affirmed,  the  best  time  to  go  after  the  springboks.  On  hearing  their 
voices,  I  rose,  and  having  breakfasted,  we  shouldered  our  "  roors." 
walked  about  a  mile  across  the  plain,  and  took  up  positions  behind 
two  very  low  bushes,  about  three  hundred  yards  apart,  and  iustriK  tc-1 
our  Hottentots'  to  endeavor  to  drive  the  springbok*  towa'  .Is  us.  V\ C 
had  two  beats,  but  were  unlucky  both  times,  each  of  us  wounding 
and  losing  a  springbok.  In  the  evening  we  went  out  again  to  !m;it 
on  the  same  principle,  on  a  very  wide  flat  to  the  west  of  hi>  house, 
where  we  lay  down  behind  very  low  bushes,  in  the  middle  of  the 
bucks.  We  lay  there  on  our  breasts  for  two  hours,  with  herds  of 
springboks  moving  all  round  us,  our  Hottentots  manoeuvring  in  (lie 
di.stauce.  One  small  troop  came  within  shot  of  me,  when  I  sent  my 
bullet,  spinning  through  a  graceful  doe,  which  bounded  forward  a 
hundred  yards,  a:id,  staggering  for  a  moment,  fell  over  and  expired. 
A  little  after  this,  I  suddenly  perceived  a  large  paow  or  bustard 
walking  on  the  plain  before  me.  These  birds  are  very  wary,  an  1 
difficult  to  approach.  I  thi  refore  resolved  to  have  a  phot  at  him, 
and  lay  like  a  piece  of  rock  until  he  came  within  range,  wlidii  I  sent 
a  bullet  through  him.  He  managed,  however,  to  fly  about  a  quartei 
of  a  mile,  when  he  alighted ;  and,  on  going  up  to  the  place  half  an  hour 
after,  I  found  him  lying  dead,  with  his  head  stuck  into  a  bus',  of  heath. 

On  the  15th,  I- took  leave  of  my  friends,  at   Kuruman,  a'-iJ  uuu- 

(284) 


A    SWARM    OF    LOCUSTS.  280 


A   LOCUST. 

tinned  my  journey  in  a  northeasterly  course  through  a  heavy 
sandy  country  of  boundless  level  plains,  stretching  away  on  every 
side,  covered  with  rank  yellow  grass,  which,  waving  in  the  breeze, 
imparted  the  idea  of  endless  fields  of  ripe  corn.  At  sundown  we 
crossed  the  Matluarin  River,  an  insignificant  stream,  and  encamped 
on  its  northern  bank.  On  the  march  we  saw  a  few  blue  wilde- 
beests and  ostriches.  At  dawn  of  day  on  the  following  morning 
we  pursued  our  journey  through  the  same  description  of  country 
varied,  however,  with  detached  clumps  of  thorny  mimosas.  On 
the  march  we  crossed  a  swarm  of  locusts,  resting  for  the  night  on 
the  grass  and  bushes.  They  lay  so  thick  that  the  wagons  could 
have  been  filled  with  them  in  a  very  short  time,  covering  the 
large  bushes  just  as  a  swarm  of  young  bees  cover  the  branch  on 
which  it  pitches.  Lccusts  afford  fattening  and  wholesome  food  to 
man,  birds,  and  all  sorts  of  beasts  ;  cows  and  horses,  lions,  jackals, 
hyaenas,  an-telopes,  elephants,  &c.,  devour  them.  We  met  a  party 
of  Batlapis  carrying  heavy  burdens  of  them  on  their  backs.  Our 
hungry  dcgs  made  a  fine  feast  on  them.  The  cold  frosty  night 
had  rendered  them  unable  to  take  wing  until  the  sun  should 
restore  their  powers.  As  it  was  difficult  to  obtain  sufficient  food 
for  my  dogs,  I  and  Isaac  took  a  large  blanket,  which  we  spread 
under  a  bush,  whose  branches  --vere  bent  to  the  ground  with  the 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


mass  of  locusts  which  covered  it ;  and,  having  shaken  the  branches, 
in  an  instant  I  had  more  locusts  than  I  could  carry  on  my  back  : 
these  we  roasted  for  ourselves  and  dogs. 

Beautifully  wooded  hills  and  mountains  stretched  away  on 
every  side;  some  of  the  mountains  were  particularly  grand  and 
majestic,  th^ir  summits  being  surrounded  by  steep  precipices  and 
abrupt  parapets  of  rock,  the  abodes  of  vv-hole  colonies  of  black- 
faced  baboons,  which,  astonished  to  behold  such  novel  intruders 
upon  their  domains,  leisurely  descended  the  craggy  mountain 
sides  for  a  nearer  inspection  of  our  caravan.  Seating  themselves 
together  upon  a  broad  ledge,  they  seemed  to  hold  a  council  as  to 
the  propriety  of  permitting  us  to  proceed  further  through  their 
territories.  Having  advanced  about  nine  miles,  I  drew  up  my 
wagons  on  the  bank  of  a  rivulet,  where  the  spoor  of  large  game 
was  extremely  abundant.  In  the  bed  of  the  stream  I  discovered 
the  scaly  skin  of  a  manis,  which  had  been  newly  eaten  by  some 
bird  of  prey.  Thisj?xtraordinary  animal,  which  in  its  habits  par- 
lakes  of  the  nature  of  the  hedgehog,  is  about  three  feet,  in  length, 
and  is  covered  all  over  with  an  impenetrable  coat  of  mail,  consist- 
ing of  large  rough  scales  about  the  size  and  shape  of  the  husk  of 
an  artichoke ;  these  overlap  one  another  in  an  extraordinary  and 


HUNTING    RHINOCEROSES.  287 


MANIS. 

irery  beautiful  manner.  Its  tail  is  broad,  and  likewise  covered 
with  scales ;  on  being  disturbed  it  rolls  itself  into  a  ball.  The 
manis  is  met  with  throughout  the  interior  of  South  Africa,  but  it  is 
rare  and  very  seldom  seen. 

Having  taken  some  coffee,  I  rode  out  unattended,  with  my  rifle, 
and  before  proceeding  far  I  fell  in  with  a  huge  white  rhinoceros 
with  a  large  calf,  standing  in  a  thorny  grove.  Getting  my  wind, 
she  set  off"  at  top  speed  through  thick  thorny  bushes,  the  calf,  as 
is  invariably  the  case,  taking  the  lead,  and  the  mother  guiding  its 
course,  generally  about  three  feet  in  length,  against  its  ribs.  My 
hcrse  shied  very  much  at  first,  alarmed  at  the  strange  appearance 
of  "  Chuckuroo,"  but  by  a  sharp  application  of  spur  and  jambok 
I  prevailed  upon  him  to  follow,  and  presently,  the  ground  im- 
proving, I  got  alongside,  and,  firing  at  the  gallop,  sent  a  bullet 
through  her  shoulder.  She  continued  her  pace  with  blood  stream- 
ing from  the  wound,  and  very  soon  reached  an  impracticable 
thorny  jungle,  where  I  could  not  follow,  and  instantly  lost  her. 
In  half  an  hour  I  fell  in  with  a  second  rhinoceros,  being  an  old 
bull  of  the  white  variety.  Dismounting,  I  crept  within  twenty 
yat  3s,  and  saluted  him  with  both  barrels  in  the  shoulder,  upon 
which  he  made  off",  uttering  a  loud  blowing  noise,  and  upsetting 
every  thing  that  obstructed  his  progress. 

Shortly  after  this  I  found  myself  on  the  bauks  of  the  stream 
oeside  which  my  wagons  were  outspanned.  Following  along  its 
margin,  I  presently  beheld  a  bull  of  the  borele,  or  black  rhinoceros, 
standing  within  a  hundred  yards  of  me.  Dismounting  from  my 
horse,  I  secured  hiiu  to  a  tree,  and  then  stalked  within  twenty 


283 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


AIT    El, AND. 

yards  of  *he  huge  beast,  under  cover  of  a  large,  strong  biish. 
Borele,  hearing  me  advance,  came  on  to  see  what  it  was,  and 
suddenly  protruded  his  horny  nose  within  twenty  yards  of  me. 
Knowing  well  that  a  front  shot  would  not  prove  deadly,  I  sprang 
to  my  feet  and  ran  behind  the  bush.  Upon  this  the  villain 
charged,  blowing  loudly,  and  chased  me  round  the  bush.  Had 
his  activity  been  equal  to  his  ugliness,  my  wanderings  would 
have  terminated  here,  but  by  my  superior  agility  I  had  the  ad- 
vantage in  the  turn.  After  standing  a  short  time  eyeing  me 
through  the  bush,  he  got  a  whiff  of  my  wind,-  which  at  once 
alarmed  him.  Uttering  a  blowing  noise,  and  erecting  his  insig- 
nificant yet  saucy-looking  tail,  he  wheeled  about,  leaving  me 
master  of  the  field,  when  I  sent  a  bullet  through  his  ribs  to  teach 
him  manners. 

Finding  that  rhinoceroses  were  abundant  in  the  vicinity,  I  re 
solved  to  halt  a  day  for  the  purpose  of  hunting,  and  after  an  earir 
breakfast  on  the  6th  I  rode  southeast  with  the  two  Baquaines 


HUNTING   THE    ELAND.  289 


They  led  me  along  the  bases  of  the  mountains,  through  woody  dells 
and  open  glades,  and  we  eventually  reached  a  grand  forest  gray 
with  age.  Here  we  found  abundance  of  spoor  of  a  variety  of 
game,  and  started  several  herds  of  the  more  common  varieties. 
At  length  I  observed  an  old  bull  eland  standing  inder  a  tree.  He 
was  the  first  that  I  had  seen,  and  was  a  noble  specimen,  standing 
about  six  feet  high  at  the  shoulder.  Observing  us,  h<?  made  olf  at 
a  gallop,  springing  over  the  trunks  of  decayed  trees  which  lay 
across  his  path  ;  but  very  soon  he  reduced  his  pace  to  a  trot. 
Spurring  my  horse,  another  moment  saw  me  riding  hard  behind 
him.  Twice  in  the  thickets  I  lost  sight  of  him,  and  he  very 
nearly  escaped  me  ;  but  at  length,  the  ground  improving,  I  came 
up  with  him,  and  rode  within  a  few  yards  behind  him.  Long 
streaks  of  foam  now  streamed  from  his  mouth,  and  a  profuse  per- 
spiration had  changed  his  sleek  gray  coat  to  an  ashy  blue.  Tears 
trickled  from  his  large  dark  eye,  and  it  was  plain  that  the  eland's 
hours  were  numbered.  Pitching  my  rifle  to  my  shoulder,  I  let 
fly  at  the  gallop,  and  mortally  wounded  him  behind  ;  then  spurring 
my  horse,  I  shot  past  him  on  his  right  side,  and  discharged  my 
other  barrel  behind  his  shoulder,  when  the  eland  staggered  for  a 
moment  and  subsided  in  the  dust.  The  two  Baquaines  soon 
made  their  appearance,  and  seemed  delighted  at  my  success. 
Having  kindled  a  fire,  they  cut  out  steaks,  which  they  roasted  on 
the  embers :  I  also  cooked  a  steak  for  myself,  spitting  it  upon  a 
forked  branch,  the  other  end  of  which  I  sharpened  with  my  knifa 
and  stuck  into  the  ground. 

Of  the  rhinoceros  there  are  four  varieties  in  South  Africa,  distin- 
guished by  the  Bechuanas  by  the  names  of  the  borele,  or  black 
rhinoceros,  the  keitloa,  or  two-horned  black  rhinoceros,  the  mucho- 
cho,  or  common  white  rhinoceros,  and  the  kobaoba,  or  long-horned 
vhite  rhinoceros.  Both  varieties  of  the  black  rhinoceros  are  ex- 
tremely fierce  and  dangerous,  and  rush  headlong  and  unprovoked 
at  any  object  which  attracts  their  attention.  They  never  attain 
much  fat,  and  their  flesh  is  tough,  and  not  much  esteemed  by  the 
Bechuanas.  Their  food  consists  almost  entirely  of  the  thorny 

brai  -*><*»  if  the  wait-a-bit  thorns.     Their  horns  are  much  shorter 
19 


290  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


than  those  of  the  other  varieties,  seldom  exceeding  eighteen 
inches  in  length.  They  are  finely  polished  with  constant  rubbing 
against  the  trees.  The  skull  is  remarkably  formed,  its  most  strik- 
ing feature  being  .rie  tremendous  thick  ossification  in  which  it 
ends  above  the  nostrils.  It  is  on  this  mass  that  the  horn  is  sup- 
ported. The  norns  are  not  connected  with  the  skull,  being  at- 
tached merely  by  the  skin,  and  they  may  thus  be  separated  from 
the  head  by  means  of  a  sharp  knife.  They  are  hard  and  per- 
fectly solid  throughout,  and  are  a  fine  material  for  various  articles, 
such  as  drinking-cups,  mallets  for  rifles,  handles  for  turner's 
tools,  &c.,  &c.  The  horn  is  capable  of  a  very  high  polish.  The 
eyes  of  llie  rhinoceros  are  small  and  sparkling,  and  do  not  readily 
observe  tne  hunter,  provided  he  keeps  to  leeward  of  them.  The 
skin  is  extremely  thick,  and  only  to  be  penetrated  by  bullets  hard- 
ened with  solder.  During  the  day  the  rhinoceros  will  be  found 
lying  asleep  or  standing  indolently  in  some  retired  part  of  the 
forest,  or  under  the  base  of  the  mountains,  sheltered  from  the 
power  of  the  sun  by  some  friendly  grove  of  umbrella-topped 
mimosas.  In  the  evening  they  commence  their  nightly  ramble, 
and  wander  over  a  great  extent  of  country.  They  usually  visit 
the  fountains  between  the  hours  of  nine  and  twelve  o'clock  at 
night,  and  it  is  on  these  occasions  that  they  may  be  most  success- 
fully hunted,  and  with  least  danger.  The  black  rhinoceros  is 
subject  to  paroxysms  of  unprovoked  fury,  often  plowing  up  the 
ground  for  several  yards  with  its- horns,  and  assaulting  large  bushes 
in  the  most  violent  manner.  On  these  bushes  they  work  for  hours 
*vith  their  horns,  at  thf  same  time  snorting  and  blowing  loudly,  nor 
do  they  l^ave  them  in  general  until  they  have  broken  them  into 
pieces.  The  rhinoceros  is  supposed  bj  many  and  by  myself 
among  the  rest,  to  be  the  animal  alluded  to  by  Job,  chap,  xxxix., 
verses  10  and  11,  where  it  is  written,  "Canst  thou  bind  the 
unicorn  with  his  band  in  the  furrow  ?  or  will  he  harrow  the 
valleys  after  thee  ?  wilt  thou  trust  him  because  his  strength  is 
great  ?  or  wilt  thou  leave  thy  labor  to  him  ?"  evidently  alluding  to 
an  animal  possessed  of  great  strength  and  of  untamable  disposition, 
for  both  of  which  the  rhinoceros  is  remarkable.  All  the  four 


HUNTING    THE    ELAND.  291 


varieties  di  light  to  ro1.  and  wallow  in  mud,  with  which  theil 
rugged  hides  are  generally  incrusted.  Both  varieties  of  the  black 
rhinoceros  are  much  smaller  and  more  active  than  the  white,  and 
are  so  swift  that  a  horse  with  its  rider  on  its  back  can  rarely  over- 
take them.  The  two  varieties  of  the  white  rhinoceros  are  so 
similar  in  habits,  that  the  description  of  one  will  serve  for  both,  tbe 
principal  difference  consisting  in  the  length  and  set  of  the  anterior 
horn ;  that  of  the  muchocho  averaging  from  two  to  three  feet  in 
length,  and  pointing  backward,  while  the  horn  of  the  kobaoba  ofter 
exceeds  four  feet  in  length,  and  inclines  forward  frorn  the  nose  at 
an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees.  The  posterior  horn  of  either 
species  seldom  exceeds  six  or  seven  inches  in  length.  The  ko- 
baoba is  the  rarer  of  the  two,  and  it  is  found  very  far  in  the  in- 
terior, chiefly  to  the  eastward  of  the  Limpopo.  Its  horns  are  very 
valuable  for  loading  rods,  supplying  a  substance  at  once  suitable 
for  a  sporting  implement  and  excellent  for  the  purpose.  Both 
these  varieties  of  rhinoceros  attain  an  enormous  size,  being  the 
animals  next  in  magnitude  to  the  elephant.  They  feed  solely  on 
grass,  carry  much  fat,  and  their  flesh  is  excellent,  being  preferable 
to  beef.  They  are  of  a  much  milder  and  more  inoffensive  dispo- 
sition than  the  black  rhinoceros,  rarely  charging  their  pursuer. 
Their  speed  is  very  inferior  to  that  of  the  other  varieties,  and  a 
person  well  mounted  can  overtake  and  shoot  them.  The  head  of 
these  is  a  foot  longer  than  that  of  the  borele.  They  generally 
carry  their  heads  low,  whereas  the  borele,  when  disturbed,  ca-nes 
his  very  high,  which  imparts  to  him  a  saucy  and  independent  air. 
Unlike  the  elephants,  they  m;ver  associate  in  herds,  but  are  met 
with  singly  or  in  pairs.  In  districts  where  they  are  abundant 
from  three  to  six  may  be  found  in  company,  and  I  once  sow  up- 
ward of  a  dozen  congregated  together  on  some  young  grass,  but 
such  an  occurrence  is  rare. 

That  magnificent  animal  the  eland  is  by  far  the  largest  of  all  the 
antelope  tribe,  exceeding  a  large  ox  in  size.  It  also  attains  an  ex- 
traordinary condition,  being  often  burdened  with  a  very  large 
amount  of  fat.  Its  flesh  is  most  excellent,  and  is  justly  esteemed 
above  all  others.  It  has  a  peculiar  sweetness,  and  is  'tender  and 


292  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


fit  for  use  the  moment  the  animal  is  killed.  Like  ti  e  gemsbok, 
the  eland  is  independent  of  water,  and  frequents  the  borders  of  tl  e 
great  Kalahari  desert  in  herds  varying  from  ten  to  a  hundred,  ll 
is  also  generally  diffused  throughout  all  the  wooded  districts  of 
the  interior  where  I  hunted.  Like  other  varieties  of  deer  and 
an'elope,  the  old  males  may  often  be  found  consorilng  together 
apart  from  the  females,  and  a  troop  of  these,  when  in  full  condition, 
may  be  likened  to  a  herd  of  stall-fed  oxen.  The  eland  has  less 
speed  than  any  other  variety  of  antelope  :  and,  by  judicious  riding, 
they  may  be  driven  to  camp  from  a  great  distance.  In  this  man- 
ner I  have  often  ridden  the  best  bull  out  of  the  herd,  and  brought 
him  within  gunshot  of  my  wagons,  where  I  could  more  conveni- 
ently cut  up  and  preserve  the  flesh,  without  the  trouble  of  send- 
ing men  and  pack-oxen  to  fetch  it.  I  have  repeatedly  seen  an 
eland  drop  down  dead  at  the  end  of  a  severe  chase,  owing  to  his 
plethoric  habit.  The  skin  of  the  eland  I  had  just  shot  emitted, 
like  most  <rther  antelopes,  the  most  delicious  perfume  of  trees  and 
grass. 


HUNTING   THE   GIRAFFE. 


293 


GIRAFFE. 

CHAPTER  L. 

HUNTING   THE   GIRAFFE. — HABITS   OF   THE   ELIPHANl. 

R.  GUMMING  thus  describes  the 
giraffe.  These  gigantic  and  ex- 
quisitely beautiful  animals,  which 
are  admirably  formed  by  nature 
to  adorn  the  fair  forests  tnat  clothe 
the  boundless  plains  of  the  inter- 
ior, are  widely  distributed  through- 
out the  interior  of  Southern  Africa, 
but  are  nowhere  to  be  met  with 

in  great  numbers.  In  countries 
unmolested  bv  the  intrusive  foot  of  man,  the  giraffe  is  found  gen- 


294  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


erally  in  herds  varying  from  twelve  to  sixteen  ;  but  I  have  not 
unfrequently  met  with  herds  containing  thirty  individuals,  and  on 
one  occasion  I  counted  forty  together ;  this  however  was  owing  to 
chance,  and  about  sixteen  may  be  reckoned  as  the  average  number 
of  a  herd.  These  herds  are  composed  of  giraffes  of  various  sizes, 
from  the  young  giraffe  of  nine  or  ten  feet  in  height,  to  the  dark  chest- 
nut-colored old  bull  of  the  herd,  whose  exalted  head  towers  above 
his  companions,  generally  attaining  a  height  of  upward  of  eighteen 
ff.t.  The  females  are  of  lower  stature  and  more  delicately 
formed  than  the  males,  their  height  averaging  from  sixteen  to 
seventeen  feet.  Some  writers  have  discovered  ugliness  and  a 
want  of  grace  in  the  giraffe,  but  I  consider  that  he  is  one  of  the 
most  strikingly  beautiful  animals  in  the  creation  ;  and  when  a  herd 
of  them  is  seen  scattered  through  a  grove  of  the  picturesque 
parasol-topped  acacias  which  adorn  their  native  plains,  and  on 
whose  uppermost  shoots  they  arr»  enabled  to  browse  by  the  colossal 
height  with  which  nature  has  so  admirably  endowed  them,  he 
must  indeed  be  slow  of  conception  who  fails  to  discover  both  grace 
and  dignity  in  all  their  movements. 

On  the  25th,  at  dawn  of  day,  we  inspanned,  and  trekked  abou* 
five  hours  in  a  northeasterly  course,  through  a  boundless  open 
country,  sparingly  adorned  with  dwarfish  old  trees.  In  the  dis- 
tance the  long-sought  mountains  of  Bamangwato  at  length  loomed 
blue  before  me.  Ws  halted  beside  a  glorious  fountain,  which  at 
once  made  me  forget  all  the  cares  and  difficulties  I  had  encoun- 
tered in  reaching  it.  The  name  of  this  fountain  was  Massouey,  but 
I  at  once  christened  it  "  the  Elephant's  own  Fountain."  This 
was  a  very  remarkable  spot  on  the  southern  borders  of  endless 
elephant  forests,  at  which  I  had  at  length  arrived.  The  fountain 
was  deep  and  strong,  situated  in  a  hollow  at  the  eastern  extremity 
of  an  extensive  vley,  and  its  margin  was  surrounded  by  a  level 
stratum  of  solid  old  red  sandstone.  Here  and  there  lay  a  thick 
layer  of  soil  upon  the  reck,  and  this  was  packed  flat  w\h  the 
fresh  spoor  of  elephants.  Around  the  water's  edge  the  very  rock 
was  worn  down  by  the  gigantic  feet  which  for  ages  had  trod 
den  there. 


BUNTIXO    THE    GIRAFFE.  297 


The  soil  of  the  surrounding  country  was  white  and  yellow  sand, 
but  grass,  trees,  and  bushes  were  abundant.  From  the  borders 
of  the  fountain  a  hzndred  well-trodden  elephant  foot-paths  led 
away  in  every  direction,  like  the  radii  of  a  circle.  The  breadth 
of  these  paths  was  about  three  feet ;  those  leading  to  the  north- 
ward and  east  was  most  frequented,  the  country  in  those  directions 
being  well  wooded.  We  drew  up  the  wagons  on  a  hillock  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  water.  This  position  commanded  a  good  view 
>f  any  game  that  might  approach  to  drink.  I  had  just  cooked 
my  breakfast,  and  commenced  to  feed  when  I  heard  my  men  ex- 
claim. «  Almagtig  keek  de  ghroote  clomp  cameel :"  and  raising  my 
eyes  from  tny  sassayby  stew,  I  beheld  a  truly  beautiful  and  very 
unusual  scene.  From  the  margin  of  the  fountain  there  extended 
an  open  level  vley,  without  tree  or  bush,  that  stretched  away  about 
a  mile  to  the  northward,  where  it  was  bounded  by  extensive 
groves  of  wide-spreading  mimosas.  Up  the  middle  of  this  vley 
stalked  a  troop  of  ten  colossal  giraffes,  flanked  by  two  large  herds 
of  blue  wildebeests  and  zebras,  with  an  advanced  guard  of  pallahs. 
They  were  all  coming  to  the  fountain  to  drink,  and  would  be 
within  rifle-shot  of  the  wagons  before  I  could  finish  my  breakfast. 
I,  however,  continued  to  swallow  my  food  with  the  utmost  expedition, 
having  directed  my  men  to  catch  and  saddle  Colesberg.  In  a 
few  minutes  the  giraffes  were  slowly  advancing  within  two  hun- 
dred yards,  stretching  their  graceful  nex^ks,  and  gazing  in  wonder 
at  the  unwonted  wagons.  Grasping  my  rifle,  I  now  mounted 
Colesberg,  and  rode  slowly  toward  them.  They  continued  gazing 
at  the  wagons  until  I  was  within  one  hundred  yards  of  them, 
when,  wisking  their  long  tails  over  their  rumps,  they  made  off  at 
an  easy  canter.  As  I  pressed  upon  them  they  increased  their 
pace  ;  but  Colesberg  had  much  the  speed  of  them,  and  before  we 
had  proceeded  half  a  mile  I  was  riding  by  the  shoulder  of  the 
dark-chestnut  old  bull,  whose  head  towered  above  the  rest.  Letting 
fly  at  the  gallop,  I  wounded  him  behind  the  shoulder  ;  soon  after 
which  I  broke  him  from  the  herd,  and  presently  going  ahead  of 
him,  he  came  to  a  stand.  I  then  gave  him  a  second  bullet,  some- 
nhere  near  the  first.  These  two  shots  had  taken  effect,  and  hts 


298  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


was  now  in  my  power,  but  I  would  not  lay  him  low  so  far  frorr. 
camp  ;  so,  having  waited  until  he  had  regained  his  breath,  I  drove 
him  halfway  back  toward  the  wagons.  Here  he  became  obstreper- 
•ms  ;  so  loading  one  barrel,  and  pointing  my  rifle  towards  the 
clouds,  I  shot  him  in  the  throat,  when,  rearing  high,  he  fell  back- 
ward and  expired.  This  was  a  magnificent  specimen  of  the 
giraffe,  measuring  upward  of  eighteen  feet  in  height.  I  stood  for 
nearly  half  an  hour  engrossed  in  the  contemplation  of  his  extreme 
beauty  and  gigantic  proportions  ;  and  if  there  had  been  no  ele- 
phants, I  could  have  exclaimed  like  Duke  Alexander  of  Gordon 
when  he  killed  the  famous  old  stag  with  seventeen  tine,  "  Now  I 
can  die  happy."  But  I  longed  for  an  encounter  with  the  noble 
elephants,  and  I  thought  little  more  of  the  giraffe  than  if  I  had 
killed  a  gemsbok  or  an  eland 

Before  proceeding  further  with  my  narrative,  it  may  here  be  in- 
teresting to  make  a  few  remarks  on  the  African  elephant  and  his 
habits.  The  elephant  is  widely  diffused  through  the  vast  forests, 
and  is  met  with  in  herds  of  various  numbers.  The  male  is  very 
much  larger  than  the  female,  consequently  much  more  difficult  to 
kill.  He  is  provided  with  two  enormous  tusks.  These  are  long, 
tapering,  and  beautifully  arched  ;  their  length  averages  from  six 
to  eight  feet,  and  they  weigh  from  sixty  to  a  hundred  pounds  each. 
In  the  vicinity  of  the  equator  the  elephants  attain  to  a  greater  size 
than  to  the  southward;  and  I  am  in  possession  of  a  pair  of  tusks 
of  the  African  bull  elephant,  the  larger  of  which  measures  ten  feet 
nine  inches  in  length,  and  weighs  one  hundred  and  seventy-three 
p  mnds.  The  females,  unlike  the  Asiatic  elephants  in  this  re- 
spect, are  likewise  provided  with  tusks.  The  price  which  the 
largest  ivory  fetches  in  the  English  market  is  from  £28  to  £32 
per  hundred  and  twelve  pounds.  Old  bull  elephants  are  found 
singly  or  in  pairs,  or  consorting  together  in  small  herds,  varying 
from  six  to  twenty  individuals.  The  younger  bulls  remain  for 
many  years  in  company  of  their  mothers,  and  these  are  met  to- 
gether in  large  herds  of  from  twenty  to  a  hundred  individuals.  The 
food  of  the  elephant  consist  of  the  branches,  leaves,  and  roots  of 
.rees.  and  als.j  of  a  variety  of  bulbs,  of  the  situation  of  which  he 


HABITS   OP   THE   ELEPHANT.  299 


is  advised  by  his  exquisite  sense  of  smell.  To  oblain  these  he 
turns  up  the  ground  with  his  tusks,  and  whole  acres  may  be  seen 
thus  plowed  up.  Elephants  consume  an  immense  quantity  of 
food,  and  pass  the  greatel  part  of  the  day  and  night  in  feeding. 
Like  the  whale  in  the  ocean,  the  elephant  on  land  is  acquainted 
with,  and  roams  over,  .wide  and  extensive  tracts.  He  is  extremely 
particular  in  always  frequenting  the  freshest  and  most  verdant 
districts  of  the  forest ;  and  when  one  district  is  parched  and  barren, 
he  will  forsake  it  for  years,  and  wander  to  great  distances  in  quest 
of  better  pasture. 

The  elephant  entertains  an  extraordinary  horror  of  man,  and  a 
child  can  put  a  hundred  of  them  to  flight  by  passing  at  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  to  windward  ;  and  when  thus  disturbed,  they  go  a  long 
way  before  they  halt.  It  is  surprising  how 'soon  these  sagacious 
animals  are  aware  of  the  presence  of  a  hunter  in  their  domains. 
When  one  troop  has  been  attacked,  all  the  otl  er  elephants  fre- 
quenting the  district  are  aware  of  the  fact  within  two  or  three 
days,  when  they  all  forsake  it,  and  migrate  to  distant  parts,  leaving 
the  hunter  no  alternative  but  to  inspan  his  wagons,  and  remove 
to  fresh  ground.  This  constitutes  one  of  the  greatest'  difficulties 
which  a  skilful  elephant-hunter  encounters.  Even  in  the  most 
remote  parts,  which  may  be  reckoned  the  head-quarters  of  the 
elephant,  it  is  only  occasionally,  and  with  inconceivable  toil  and 
hardship,  that  the  eye  of  the  hunter  is  cheered  by  the  sight  of  one. 
Owing  to  habits  peculiar  to  himself,  the  elephant  is  more  inac- 
cessible, and  much  more  rarely  seen,  than  any  other  game  quad- 
«ruped,  excepting  certain  rare  antelopes.  They  choose  for  their 
resort  the  most  lonely  and  secluded  depths  of  the  forest,  generally 
at  a  very  great  distance  from  the  rivers  and  fountains  at  which 
they  drink.  In  dry  and  warm  weather  they  visit  these  waters 
nightly,  but  in  cool  and  cloudy  weather  they  drink  only  once 
every  third  or  fourth  day.  About  sundown  the  elephant  leaves 
his  distant  mid-day  haunt,  and  commences  his  march  toward  the 
fountain,  which  is  probably  from  twelve  to  twenty  miles  distant 
This  he  generally  reaches  between  the  hours  of  nine  and  mid- 
night, when,  having  slacked  his  thirst  and  cooled  his  body  by 


300  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


spouting  large  volumes  of  water  over  his  back  with  nis  trur.L,  he 
resumes  the  path  to  his  forest  solitudes.  Having  reached  a 
secluded  spot,  I  have  remarked  that  full-grown  bulls  lie  down  on 
their  broadsides,  about  the  hour  of  midnight,  and  sleep  for  a  few 
hours.  The  spot  which  they  usually  select  is  an  ant-hill,  and 
they  lay  around  it  with  their  backs  resting  against  it;  these  hills, 
formed  by  the  white  ants,  are  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  in  diameter 
at  their  base.  The  mark  of  the  under  tusk  is  always  deeply  im- 
printed in  the  ground,  proving  that  they  lie  upon  their  sides.  I 
never  remarked  that  females  had  thus  lain  down,  and  it  is  only  in 
the  more  secluded  districts  that  the  bulls  adopt  this  practice  ;  for  I 
observed  that,  in  districts  where  the  elephants  were  liable  to  fre- 
quent disturbance,  they  took  repose  standing  on  their  legs  beneath 
some  shady  tree.  Having  slept,  they  then  proceeded  to  feed  ex- 
tensively. Spreading  out  from  one  another,  and  proceeding  in  . 
zigzag  course,  they  smash  and  destroy  all  the  finest  trees  in  the 
forest  which  happen  to  lie  in  their  course.  The  number  of  goodly 
trees  which  a  herd  of  bull  elephants  will  thus  destroy  is  utterly 
incredible.  They  are  extremely  capricious,  and  on  coming  to  a 
group  of  five  or  six  trees,  they  break  down  not  unfrequently  the 
whole  of  ^hem,  when,  having  perhaps  only  tasted  one  or  two 
small  branches,  they  pass  on  and  continue  their  wanton  work  of 
destruction.  I  have  repeatedly  ridden  through  forests  where  the 
trees  thus  broken  lay  so  thick  across  one  another  that  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  ride  through  the  district,  and  it  is  in  situations 
such  as  these  that  attacking  the  elephant  is  attended  with  most 
danger.  During  the  night  they  will  feed  in  open  plains  and 
thinly-wooded  districts,  but  as  day  dawns  they  retire  to  the 
densest  covers  within  reach,  and  which  nine  times  in  ten  are  com- 
posed of  the  impracticable  wait-a-bit  thorns  and  hen)  they  remain 
drawn  up  in  a  compact  herd  during  the  heat  of  the  day.  In  re- 
mote districts,  however,  and  in  cool  weather,  I  have  known  herds 
iO  continue  pasturing  throughout  the  whole  day. 

The  pace  of  the  elep1  ant,  when  undisturbed,  is  a  bold,  free 
sweeping  step  ;  and  a'  his  movements  are  attended  with  a  peog 
liar  gentlenes?  and  g:ace 


HUNTING    RIIINOCEKOSES. 


A    BLAUWBOS. 

CHAPTER  LI 

MR.    CUMMINQ   CHASED   BY  A   RHINOCEROS. 

N  the  22d,  says  Mr.  Cumnnngr 
ordering  my  men  to  move  on 
toward  a  fountain  in  the  centra 
of  the  plain,  1  rode  forth  with 
Ruyter,and  held  east  through  a  grove  of  lofty 
and  wide-spreading  mimosas,  most  of  which 
were  more  or  less  damaged  by  the  gigantic 
strength  of  a  troop  of  elephants,  which  had 
passed  there  about  twelve;  months  before, 
Having  proceeded  about  two  miles  with 
large  herds  of  game  on  every  side,  I  observed  a  crusty  looking  old 
bull  borele,  or  black  rhinoceros,  cocking  his  ears  one  hundred 


802  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


yards  in  advance.  He  had  not  observed  us  ;  and  soon  after  he 
walked  slowly  toward  KS,  and  stood  broadside  to,  eating  some 
wait-a-bit  thorns  within  fifty  yards  of  me.  I  fired  from  my  saddle, 
and  sent  a  bullet  in  behind  his  shoulder,  upon  which  he  rushed 
forward  about  one  hundred  yards  in  tjjemendous  consternation, 
blowing  like  a  grampus,  and  then  stood  looking  about  him.  Pre- 
sently he  made  off.  I  followed,  but  found  it  hard  to  come  up  with 
him.  When  I  overtook  him  I  saw  the  blood  running  freely  from 
his  T-vound. 

The  chase  led  through  a  large  herd  of  blue  wildebeests,  zebras, 
and  springboks,  which  gazed  at  us  in  utter  amazement.  At  length 
I  fired  my  second  barrel,  but  my  horse  was  fidgety,  and  I  missed. 
I  continued  riding  alongside  of  him,  expecting  in  my  ignorance 
that  at  length  he  would  come  to  bay,  which  rhinoceroses  never 
do ;  when  suddenly  he  fell  flat  on  his  broadside  on  the  ground, 
but,  recovering  his  feet,  resumed  his  course  as  if  nothing  had  hap- 
pened. Becoming  at  last  annoyed  at  the  length  of  the  chase,  as  I 
wished  to  keep  my  horses  fresh  for  the  elephants,  and  being  indif- 
ferent whether  I  got  the  rhinoceros  or  not,  as  I  observed  that  his 
horn  was  completely  worn  down  with  age  and  the  violence  of  his 
disposition,  I  determined  to  bring  matters  to  a  crisis  ;  so,  spurring 
my  horse,  I  dashed  ahead,  and  rode  right  in  his  path.  Upon  this 
the  hideous  monster  instantly  charged  me  in  the  most  resolute 
manner,  blowing  loudly  through  his  nostrils ;  and,  although  I 
quickly  wheeled  about  to  my  left,  he  followed  me  at  such  a  furious 
pace  for  several  hundred  yards,  with  his  horrid  horny  snout  within 
a  few  yards  of  my  horse's  tail,  that  my  little  Bushman,  who  was 
looking  on  in  great  alarm,  thought  his  master's  destruction  inevita- 
ble. It  was  certainly  a  very  near  thing;  my  horse  was  extremely 
afraid,  and  exerted  his  utmost  energies  on  the  occasion.  The  rhi- 
noceros, however,  wheeled  about,  and  continued  his  former  course, 
and  I,  being  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  interview  which  1  had 
already  enjoyed  with  him,  had  no  desire  to  cultivate  his  acquaint- 
ance any  further,  and  accordingly  made  for  camp.  We  /eft  the 
fountain  of  Bob'tlonamy  the  same  day,  and  marched  about  six 


AFRICAN    GAME.  305 


miles  through  an  old  gray  forest  of  mimosas,  when  we  halted  for 
the  night.  Large  flocks  of  Guinea-fowls  roosted  in  the  trees 
around  our  encampment,  several  of  which  I  shot  for  my  supper. 

On  the  23d  we  inspanned  by  moonlight,  and  continued  our 
march  through  a  thinly-wooded,  level  country.  It  was  a  lovely 
morning ;  the  sun  rose  in  great  splendor,  and  the  sky  was  beauti- 
fully overcast  with  clouds.  Having  proceeded  about  ten  miles, 
the  country  became  thickly  covered  with  detached  forest  trees 
and  gioves  of  wait-a-bit  thorns.  The  guides  now  informed  us 
that  the  water,  which  is  called  by  the  Bechuanas  "  Lepeby," 
was  only  a  short  distance  in  advance,  upon  which  I  saddled  steeds, 
and  rode  ahead  with  the  Bushman,  intending  to  hunt  for  an  hour 
before  breakfast.  Presently  we  reached  an  open  glade  in  the 
forest,  where  I  observed  a  herd  of  zebras  in  advance  ;  and  on  my 
left  stood  a  troop  of  springboks,  with  two  leopards  watching  them 
from  behind  a  bush.  I  rode  on,  and  soon  fell  in  with  a  troop  of 
hartebeests,  and,  a  little  after,  with  a  large  herd  of  blue  wilde- 
beests and  pallahs.  I  followed  these  for  some  distance,  when 
they  were  re-inforced  by  two  other  herds  of  pallahs  and  wilde- 
beests. Three  black  rhinoceroses  now  trotted  across  my  path. 
Presently  I  sprang  from  my  horse,  and  fired  right  and  left  at  a 
princely  bull  blue  wildebeest.  He  got  both  balls,  but  did  not  fall ; 
and  I  immediately  lost  sight  of  him  in  the  dense  ranks  of  his 
shaggy  companions.  The  game  increased  as  we  proceeded,  until 
ihe  whole  forest  seemed  alive  with  a  variety  of  beautifully-colored 
animals.  On  this  occasion  I  was  very  unfortunate  ;  I  might  have 
killed  any  quantity  of  game  if  venison  had  been  my  object ;  but  I 
was  trying  to  get  a  few  very  superior  heads  of  some  of  the  master 
bucks  of  the  pallahs.  Of  these  I  wounded  four  select  old  bucks 
but  in  the  dust  and  confusion  caused  by  the  innumerable  quantity 
of  the  game  I  managed  to  lose  them  all. 

We  had  now  ridden  many  miles  from  the  wagons  ;  and  feeling 
faint  from  want  of  food,  I  dropped  the  chase  in  disgust,  and,  with- 
out looking  at  my  compass,  ordered  the  Bushman  to  go  ahead 
My  attention  had  been  so  engrossed  with  the  excitement  of  the 
pursuit,  that  I  had  i,ot  the  remotest  idea  of  the  course  I  had  taken, 

20 


806  HUNTTXtt     ADVENTURES. 


ind  the  whole  country  exhibited  such  an  aspect  of  sameness,  that 
there  was  no  landmark  or  eminence  of  any  description  by  which 
to  steer.  Having  ridden  many  miles  through  the  forest,  I  at 
length  asked  the  Bushman,  in  whom  on  such  occasions  I  gene- 
raJly  placed  great  confidence,  if  he  was  sure  he  was  riding  in  the 
right  direction,  and,  as  he  appeared  quite  confident,  I  allowed  him 
10  proceed.  At  length  he  said  that  we  had  gone  a  little  too  far  to 
the  left,  and  led  me  away  several  miles  to  the  right,  which  was 
westerly  ;  whereas  the  wagons  eventually  proved  to  be  a  long 
way  to  the  east.  I  felt  convinced  that  we  were  wrong,  and,  rein- 
ing up,  a  discussion  arose  between  us,  the  Bushman  still  main- 
taining that  we  must  ride  west,  while  I  was  certain  that  our  course 
should  be  east.  I  now  adopted  my  own  opinion,  and,  having 
ridden  many  miles  in  an  easterly  direction,  we  were  at  one  time 
close  upon  the  wagons,  when  the  thick-headed  Bushman  declared 
that  if  I  persevered  we  should  never  see  the  wagons  again,  and  1 
with  equal  stupidity  yielded  to  his  advice,  and  a  southwesterly 
course  was  once  more  adopted.  Having  ridden  for  many  miles, 
I  again  reined  up,  and  again  told  the  Bushman  we  were  wrong  ; 
upon  which  he  for  the  first  time  acknowledged  that  he  knew  no- 
thing at  all  about  the  matter,  but  stated  it  to  be  his  impression  that 
we  ought  to  ride  further  to  the  west.  My  head  was  so  confused 
that  I  lost  all  recollection  of  how  we  had  ridden  ;  and  while  I  was 
deliberating  what  I  should  do,  I  observed  a  volume  of  smoke  a 
long  way  to  the  north,  which  I  at  once  imagined  had  been  kindled 
by  my  followers  to  guide  their  lost  master  to  the  wagons. 

With  revived  spirits,  I  stirred  my  jaded  steed  and  made  for  the 
smoke:  but,  alas!  this  only  served  to  lead  me  further  astray. 
After  riding  many  miles  in  that  direction,  I  discovered  that  the  fire 
vvus  at  an  amazing  distance,  and  could  not  have  been  kindled  by 
my  men  ;  it  was  the  wild  Bakalahari  of  the  desert  burning  thu 
old  dry  grass.  I  was  now  like  a  seaman  in  a  hurricane — at  my 
wit's  end — I  knew  not  how  to  ride  nor  what  to  do.  The  sun, 
which  had  just  risen  when  I  left  the  wagons,  was  about  to  set. 
There  was  no  landmark  whatever  by  which  to  steer;  I  might 
tvander  for  days,  and  not  discover  water. 


SUFFERING    FROM   THIRST.  307 


To  find  the  wagons  was  comparatively  a  trifle.  I  thought  little 
of  them ;  it  was  the  thought  of  water  that  harrowed  my  mind. 
Already^  the  pangs  of  thirst  began  to  seize  me.  I  had  ridden  alt 
day,  under  the  hot  sun,  and  had  neither  eaten  nor  drunk  since 
early  the  preceding  evening.  I  felt  faint  and  weary,  and  my  heart 
sank  as  horrible  visions  of  a  lingering  death  by  maddening  thirst 
arose  before  me.  Dismounting  from  my  horse,  I  sat  down  to 
think  what  I  should  do.  I  knew  exactly  by  my  compass  the 
course  we  had  been  steering  since  we  left  Booby.  I  accordingly 
resolved  to  ride  southwest  for  many  miles,  the  course  of  the 
wagons  having  been  northeast,  and  then  to  send  Ruyter  across 
the  country  a  little  to  the  north  of  west,  while  I  should  hold  a 
corresponding  course  in  an  easterly  direction.  By  this  means 
one  of  us  could  not  fail  to  find  the  spoor,  and  I  arranged  that  at 
nightfall  we  should  meet  at  some  conspicuous  tree,  paving  thus 
resolved,  I  mounted  my  horse,  which  was  half  dead  with  thirst 
and  fatigue,  and,  having  ridden  southwest  for  several  miles,  I  and 
Ruyter  separated  at  a  conspicuous  tree,  and  rode  in  opposite 
directions.  Before  riding  far  I  recognized  the  country  as  being 
the  spot  where  I  had  seen  the  leopards  in  the  morning.  I  at 
once  followed  Ruyter,  and  fired  several  signal  shots,  which  he 
fortunately  heard,  and  soon  joined  me.  We  then  rode  due  east, 
and  eventually,  to  my  inexpressible  gratification,  we  discovered 
the  spoor  of  the  wagons,  which  we  reached  after  following  it  for 
about  four  miles  in  a  northeasterly  direction. 

Our  poor  horses  were  completely  exhausted,  and  could  barely 
walk  to  the  camp.  I  found  my  wagons  drawn  up  beside  the 
strong  fountain  of  Lepeby,  which,  issuing  from  beneath  a  stratum 
of  white  tufous  rock,  formed  an  extensive  deep  pool  of  pure  water, 
adorned  on  one  side  with  lofty  green  reeds.  This  fountain  was 
situated  at  the  northern  extremity  of  a  level  bare  vley,  surrounded 
by  dense  covers  of  the  wait-a-bit  thorns.  Such  a  peculiar  same- 
ness characterized  the  country,  that  a  person  wandering  only  a 
few  hundred  yards  from  the  fountain  would  have  considerable 
difficulty  in  regaining  it.  It  was  night  when  I  reached  the 


808 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


wagons,  and  two  or  three  cups  of  coffee  soon  restored  me  to  mj 
wonted  vigor. 

On  the  following  morning,  from  earliest  dawn  until  we  trekked, 
which  we  did  about  10  A.  M.,  large  herds  of  game  kept  pouring 
in  to  drink  from  evsry  side,  completely  covering  the  open  space, 
and  imparting  to  it  the  appearance  of  a  cattle  fair ;  blue  wilde- 
beests, zebras,  sassaybies,  pallahs,  springboks,  &c.,  capered  fear- 
.essly  up  to  the  water,  troop  after  troop,  within  two  hundred  yards 
jf  us.  In  former  years  a  tribe  of  Bechuanas  had  frequented  this 
fountain,  and  I  beheld  the  skeletons  of  many  rhinoceroses  and  of 
one  elephant  bleaching  in  the  sun ;  but  the  powerful  and  cruel 
Matabili  had  attacked  the  tribe,  and  driven  them  to  seek  a  home 
elsewhere.  I  shot  a  pallah  and  a  wildebeest,  which  we  secured 
behind  the  wagons.  About  10  A.  M.  we  inspanned,  and  within 
a  mile  of  Lepeby  we  passed  through  another  similar  open  vley, 
containing  a  strong  fountain  of  delicious  water.  We.  continued 
our  march  till  sundown  through  an  undulating  open  country, 
thinly  covered  with  detached  trees  and  thorny  bushes,  and  en- 
camped  in  a  sandy  desert  without  water. 


ADVENTURE  WITH  ELEPHANTS. 


309 


CHAPTER  LIT. 

AL  VENTURE   WITH   ELEPHANTS. — HABITS  OF  THE  LION. 


N  the  27th,  as  day  dawned,  say& 
Mr.  Gumming,  I  left  my  shooting- 
hole,  and  proceeded  to  inspect  the 
spoor  of  my  wounded  elephant. 
After  following  it  for  some  distance  I  came 
to  an  abrupt  hillock,  and  fancying  that  from 
the  summit  a  good  view  might  be  obtained 
of  the  surrounding  country,  I  left  my  fol- 
lowers to  seek  the  spoor,  while  1  ascended. 
I  did  not  raise  my  eyes  from  the  ground  until  I  had  reached  the 
highest  pinnacle  of  rock.  I  then  looked  east,  and  to  my  inex- 
pressible gratification,  beheld  a  troop  of  nine  or  ten  elephants 
quietly  browsing  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  me.  I  allowed 
myself  only  one  glance  at  them,  and  then  rushed  down  to  warn 
my  followers  to  be  silent.  A  council  of  war  was  hastily  held,  the 
result  of  TOhich  was  my  ordering  Isaac  to  ride  hard  to  camp,  with 
instructions  to  return  as  quickly  as  possible,  accompanied  by  Klein- 
boy,  and  to  bring  me  my  dogs,  the  large  Dutch  rifle,  and  a  fresh 


310  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


horse.  I  once  more  ascended  the  hillock  to  feast  my  eyes  upon 
the  enchanting  sight  before  me,  and,  drawing  out  my  spy-glass, 
narrowly  watched  the  motions  of  the  elephants.  The  herd  con 
sisted  entirely  of  fern  lies,  several  of  which  were  followed  by  small 
calves. 

Presently,  on  reconnoitering  the  surrounding  country,  I  dis- 
covered a  second  herd,  consisting  of  five  bull  elephants,  which 
were  quietly  feeding  about  a  mile  to  the,  northward.  The  cows 
were  feeding  toward  a  rocky  ridge  that  stretched  away  from  the 
base  of  the  hillock  on  which  I  stood.  Burning  with  impatience 
to  commence  the  attack,  I  resolved  to  try  the  stalking  system  with 
these,  and  to  hunt  the  troop  of  bulls  with  dogs  and  horses.  Hav- 
ing thus  decided,  1  directed  the  guides  to  watch  the  elephants 
from  the  summit  of  the  hillock,  and  with  a  beating  heart  1  ap- 
proached them.  The  ground  and  wind  favoring  me,  I  soon  gained 
the  rocky  ridge  toward  which  they  were  feeding.  They  uere 
now  within  one  hundred  yards,  and  I  resolved  to  enjoy  the  plea- 
sure of  watching  their  movements  for  a  little  before  I  fired.  They 
continued  to  feed  slowly  toward  me,  breaking  the  branches  from 
the  trees  with  their  trunks,  and  eating  the  leaves  and  tender 
shoots.  I  soon  selected  the  finest  in  the  herd,  and  kept  my  eye 
on  her  in  particular.  At  length  two  of  the  troop  had  walked 
slowly  past  at  about  sixty  yards,  and  the  one  which  I  had  selected 
was  feeding  with  two  others,  on  a  thorny  tree  before  me. 

My  hand  was  now  as  steady  as  the  rock  on  which  it  rested  ; 
so,  taking  a  deliberate  aim,  I  let  fly  at  her  head  a  little  behind  the 
eye.  She  got  it  hard  and  sharp,  just  where  I  aimed,  but  it  did 
not  seem  to  affect  her  much.  Uttering  a  loud  cry,  she  wheeled 
about,  when  I  gave  her  the  second  ball  close  behind  the  shoulder 
All  the  elephants  uttered  a  strange  rumbling  noise,  and  made  off 
in  a  line  to  the  northward  at  a  brsk  ambling  pace,  their  huge, 
fan-like  ears  flapping  in  the  ratio  of  their  speed.  I  did  not  wait 
to  load,  but  ran  back  to  the  hillock  to  obtain  a  view.  On  gaining 
its  summit,  the  guides  pointed  out  the  elephants  :  they  were  stand- 
ing in  a  grove  of  shady  trees,  but  the  wounded  one  was  some  dis- 
tance behind  with  another  elephant,  doubtless  its  particular  friend, 


,     «    '  **7       i 

to*1 


ADVENTURE  WITH  ELEPHANTS.  313 


tvho  was  endeavoring  to  assist  it.  These  elephants  had  probably 
never  before  heard  the  report  of  a  gun,  and,  having  neither  seen 
nor  smelt  me,  they  were  unaware  of  the  presence  of  man,  and  did 
not  seem  inclined  to  go  any  further.  Presently  my  men  hove  in 
sight,  bringing  the  dogs  ;  and  when  these  came  up,  I  waited  some 
time  before  commencing  the  attack,  that  the  dogs  and  horses 
might  recover  their  wind.  We  then  rode  slowly  toward  the  ele- 
phants, and  had  advanced  within  two  hundred  yards  of  them 
when,  the  ground  being  open,  they  observed  us  and  made  off  in 
an  easterly  direction  ;  but  the  wounded  one  immediately  dropped 
astern,  and  the  next  moment  was  surrounded  by  the  dogs,  which, 
barking  angrily,  seemed  to  engross  her  attention. 

Having  placed  myself  between  her  and  the  retreating  troop,  I 
dismounted  to  fire  within  forty  yards  of  her,  in  open  ground. 
Colesberg  was  extremely  afraid  of  the  elephants,  and  gave  me 
much  trouble,  jerking  my  arm  when  I  tried  to  fire.  At  length  I 
let  fly  ;  but,  on  endeavoring  to  regain  my  saddle,  Colesberg  de- 
clined to  allow  me  to  mount ;  and  when  I  tried  to  lead  him,  and 
run  for  it,  he  only  backed  toward  the  wounded  elephant.  At  this 
moment  I  heard  another  elephant  close  behind ;  and  on  looking 
about,  I  beheld  the  ({ friend,"  with  uplifted  trunk,  charging  down 
upon  me  at  top  speed,  shrilly  trumpeting,  and  following  an  old 
black  pointer  named  Schwart,  that  was  perfectly  deaf,  and  trotted 
along  before  the  enraged  elephant  quite  unaware  of  what  was  be 
hind  him.  I  felt  certain  that  she  would  have  either  me  or  my 
horse.  I,  however,  determined  not  to  relinquish  my  steed,  but  to 
hold  on  by  the  bridle.  My  men,  who  of  course  kept  at  a  safe  dis- 
tance, stood  aghast  with  their  mouths  open,  and  for  a  few  seconds 
my  position  was  certainly  not  an  enviable  one.  Fortunately,  how 
ever,  the  dogs  took  off  the  attention  of  the  elephants  ;  and  just  ay 
they  were  upon  me,  I  managed  to  spring  into  the  saddle,  where  1 
was  safe.  As  I  turned  my  back  to  mount,  the  elephants  were  so 
rery  near  that  I  really  expected  to  feel  one  of  their  trunks  lay  hold 
of  me.  I  rode  up  to  Kleinboy  for  my  double-barreled  two-grooved 
rifle  :  he  and  Isaac  were  pale  and  almost  speechless  with  fright 
Returning  to  the  charge,  I  was  soon  once  more  alongside,  andL 


314  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


firing  from  the  saddle,  I  sent  another  brace  of  bullets  into  the 
wounded  elephant.  Colesberg  was  extremely  unsteady,  and  de- 
stroyed the  correctness  of  my  aim. 

The  friend  now  seemed  resolved  to  do  some  mischief,  and 
charged  me  furiously,  pursuing  me  to  a  distance  of  several  hun- 
dred yards.  I  therefore  deemed  it  proper  to  give  her  a  gentle 
hint  to  act  less  officiously,  and,  accordingly,  having  loaded,  T 
approached  within  thirty  yards,  and  gave  it  her  sharp,  right  and 
left,  behind  the  sh'oulder,  upon  which  she  at  once  made  off  with 
drooping  trunk,  evidently  with  a  mortal  wound.  I  never  recur 
to  this  day's  elephant  shooting  without  regretting  my  folly  in 
contenting  myself  with  securing  only  one  elephant.  The  first  was 
now  dying,  and  could  not  leave  the  ground,  and  the  second  was 
also  mortally  wounded,  and  I  had  only  to  follow  and  finish  her  ; 
but  I  foolishly  allowed  her  to  escape,  while  I  amused  myself  with 
the  first,  which  kept  walking  backward,  am.  -'anding  by  everj 
tree  she  passed.  Two  more  shots  finished  hv  •  on  receivifco 
them,  she  tossed  her  trunk  up  and  down  two  or  tlu^  *imes,  and, 
falling  on  her  broadside  against  a  thorny  tree,  which  yielded  like 
grass  before  her  enormous  weight,  she  uttered  a  deep  hoarse  cry 
end  expired.  This  was  a  very  handsome  old  cow  elephant,  and 
jvas  decidedly  the  best  in  the  troop.  She  was  in  excellent  con- 
dition, and  carried  a  pair  of  long  and  perfect  tusks.  I  was  in  high 
spirits  at  my  success,  and  felt  so  perfectly  satisfied  with -having 
killed  one,  that,  although  it  was  still  early  in  the  day,  and  my 
horses  were  fresh,  I  allowed  the  troop  of  five  bulls  to  remain  un- 
molested, foolishly  trusting  to  fall  in  with  them  next  day.  How 
little  did  I  then  know  of  the  habits  of  elephants,  or  the  rules  to  be 
adopted  in  hunting  them,  or  deem  it  probable  I  should  never  see 
them  more  !  ***** 

Although  the  dignified  and  truly  monarchical  appearance  of 
ihe  lion  has  long  rendered  him  famous  among  his  fellow  quad- 
mpeJs,  and  his  apj.  sarance  and  habits  have  often  been  described 
by  abler  pens  than  mine,  nevertheless  I  consider  that  a  few  re- 
marks, resulting  from  my  own  personal  experience,  formed  by  a 
*  drably  long  acquaintance  with  him  both  by  day  and  by  night, 


HABIIS   OF   THE   LION.  315 


/nay  not  prove  uninteresting  to  the  reader.  There  is  something 
so  noble  and  imposing  in  the  presence  of  the  lion,  when  seen 
walkin?  with  dignified  self-possession,  free  and  undaunted,  on  hig 
native  soil,  that  no  description  can  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  his 
striking  appearance.  The  lion  is  exquisitely  formed  by  nature  for 
the  predatory  habits  which  he  is  destined  to  pursue.  Combining 
in  comparatively  small  compass  the  qualities  of  power  and  agility, 
he  is  enabled,  by  means  of  the  tremendous  machinery  with  which 
nature  has  gifted  him,  easily  to  overcome  and  destroy  almost  every 
beast  of  the  forest,  however  superior  to  him  in  weight  and  stature 

Though  considerably  under  four  feet  in  height,  he  has  little 
difficulty  in  dashing  to  the  ground  and  overcoming  the  lofty  and 
apparently  powerful  giraffe,  whose  head  towers  above  the  trees 
of  the  forest,  and  whose  skin  is  nearly  an  inch  in  thickness.  The 
lion  is  the  constant  attendant  of  the  vast  herds  of  buffaloes  which 
frequent  the  interminable  forests  of  the  interior  ;  and  a  full-grown 
one,  so  long  as  his  teeth  are  unbroken,  generally  proves  a  match 
for  an  old  bull  buffalo,  which  in  size  and  strength  greatly  sur- 
passes the  most  powerful  breed  of  English  cattle  :  the  lion  also 
preys  on  all  the  larger  varieties  of  the  antelopes,  and  on  both 
rarieties  of  the  gnoo.  The  zebra,  which  is  met  with  ir.  large 
herds  throughout  the  interior,  is  also  a  favorite  object  of  his 
pursuit. 

Lions*  do  not  refuse,  as  has  been  asserted,  to  feast  upon  the 
venison  that  they  have  not  killed  themselves.  I  have  repeatedly 
discovered  lions  of  all  ages  which  had  taken  possession  of,  and 
were  feasting  upon,  the  carcases  of  various  game  quadrupeds5 
which  had  fallen  before  my  rifle.  The  lion  is  very  generally 
diffused  throughout  the  secluded  parts  of  Southern  Africa.  He 
is,  however,  nowhere  met  with  in  great  abundance,  it  being  very 
rare  to  find  more  than  three,  or  even  two,  families  of  lions  fre- 
quenting the  same  district  and  drinking  at  the  same  fountain. 
When  a  greater  number  were  met  with,  I  remarked  that  it  was 
owing  to  long-protracted  droughts,  which,  by  drying  nearly  alJ 
the  fountains,  had  compelled  the  game  of  various  districts  to 
crowd  the  remaining  springs,  and  the  lions,  according  to  theii 


316  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


custom,  followed  in  their  wake.  It  is  a  common  thing  to  come 
upon  a  full-grown  lion  and  lioness  associating  with  three  or  four 
large  ones  nearly  full-grown ;  at  other  times  full-grown  males  wilJ 
be  found  associating  and  hunting  together  in  a  happy  state  of 
friendship :  two,  three,  and  four  full-grown  male  lions  may  thus 
be  discovered  consorting  together. 

The  male  lion  is  adorned  with  a  long,  rank,  shaggy  mane, 
which  in  some  instances  almost  sweeps  the  ground.  The  coloi 
of  these  manes  varies,  some  being  very  dark,  and  others  of  a 
golden  yellow.  This  appearance  has  given  rise  to  a  prevailing 
opinion  among  the  Boers  that  there  are  two  distinct  varieties  of 
lions,  which  they  distinguish  by  the  respective  names  of  "  Schwart 
fore  life"  and  "Chiel  fore  life :"  this  idea, -however,  is  erroneous. 
The  color  of  the  lion's  mane  is  generally  influenced  by  his  age. 
He  attains  his  mane  in  the  third  year  of  his  existence.  I  have 
remarked  that  at  first  it  is  of  a  yellowish  color ;  in  the  prime  of 
life  it  is  blackest,  and  when  he  has  numbered  many  years,  but 
still  is  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  his  power,  it  assumes  a  yellowish- 
gray,  pepper-and-salt  sort  of  color.  These  old  fellows  are  cun- 
ning and  dangerous,  and  most  to  be  dreaded.  The  females  are 
utterly  destitute  of  a  mane,  being  covered  with  a  short,  thick, 
glossy  coat  of  tawny  hair.  The  manes  and  coats  of  lions  fre- 
quenting open-lying  districts  utterly  destitute  of  trees,  such  as  the 
borders  of  the  great  Kalahari  desert,  are  more  rank  and  handsome 
than  those  inhabiting  forest  districts. 

One  of  the  most  striking  things  connected  with  the  lion  is  his 
voice,  which  is  extremely  grand  and  peculiarly  striking.  It  con- 
sists at  times  of  a  low,  deep  moaning,  repeated  five  or  six  times, 
ending  in  faintly  audible  sighs;  at  other  times  he  startles  the 
forest  with  loud,  deep-toned,  solemn  roars,  repeated  five  or  six 
times  in  quick  succession,  each  increasing  in  loudness  to  the  third 
or  fourth,  when  his  voice  dies  away  in  five  or  six  low,  mufflf d 
sounds,  very  much  resembling  distant  thunder.  At  times,  and 
not  unfrequently,  a  troop  may  be  heard  roaring  in  concert,  one 
assuming  the  lead,  and  two,  three,  or  four  more  regularly  taking 
u*  heir  parts,  like  persons  singing  a  catch.  Like  our  Scottish 


HABITS   OF   THE   LION.  317 


stags  at  the  rutting  season,  they  roar  loudest  in  cold,  frosty  nights; 
but  on  no  occasions  are  their  voices  to  oe  heard  in  such  perfection, 
o?  so  intensely  powerful,  as  when  two  or  three  strange  troops  of 
lions  approach  a  fountain  to  drink  at  the  same  time.  When  this 
occurs,  every  member  of  each  troop  sounds  a  bold  roar  of  defiance 
at  the  opposite  parties  ;  and  when  one  roars,  all  roar  together,  and 
each  seems  to  vie  with  his  comrades  in  the  intensity  and  power 
of  his  voice.  The  power  and  -grandeur  of  these  nocturnal  forest 
concerts  is  inconceivably  striking  and  pleasing  to  the  hunter's  ear. 
The  effect,  I  may  remark,  is  greatly  enhanced  when  the  hearer 
happens  to  be  situated  in  the  depths  of  the  forest,  at  the  dead  hour 
of  midnight,  unaccompanied  by  any  attendant,  and  ensconced 
within  twenty  yards  of  the  fountain  which  the  surrounding  troops 
of  lions  are  approaching.  Such  has  been  my  situation  many 
scores  of  times;  and  though  I  am  allowed  to  have  a  tolerably 
good  taste  for  music,  I  consider  the  catches  with  which  I  was 
then  regaled  as  the  sweetest  and  most  natural  I  ever  heard. 

As  a  general  rule,  lions  roar  during  the  night ;  their  sighing 
moans  commencing  as  the  shades  of  evening  envelop  the  forest, 
and  continuing  at  intervals  throughout  the  night.  In  distant  and 
secluded  regions,  however,  I  have  constantly  heard  them  roaring 
loudly  as  late  as  nine  and  ten  o'clock  on  a  bright  sunny  morning. 
In  hazy  and  rainy  weather  they  are  to  be  heard  at  every  hour  in 
the  day,  but  their  roar  is  subdued.  It  often  happens  that  when 
two  strange  male  lions  meet  at  a  fountain  a  terrific  combat  ensues, 
which  not  unfrequently  ends  in  the  death  of  one  of  them.  The 
habits  of  the  lion  are  strictly  nocturnal ;  during  the  day  he  lies 
concealed  beneath  the  shade  of  some  low  bushy  tree  or  wide- 
spreading  bush,  either  in  the  level  forest  or  on  the  mountain  side. 
He  is  also  partial  to  lofty  reeds,  or  fields  of  long,  rank  yellow 
grass,  such  as  occur  in  low-lying  vleys.  From  these  haunts  he 
sallies  forth  when  the  sun  goes  down,  and  commences  his  nightly 
prowl.  When  he  is  successful  in  his  beat  and  has  secured  his 
prey,  he  does  not  roar  much  that  night,  only  uttering  occasionally 
G.  few  low  moans  ;  that  is,  provided  no  intruders  approach  him 
otherwise  the  cai;e  would  be  very  different. 


318  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


Lions  are  ever  most  active,  daring,  and  presuming  in  dark  and 
stormy  nights,  and  consequently,  on  such  occasions,  the  traveller 
ought  more  particularly  to  be  on  his  guard.  I  remarked  a  fact 
connected  with  the  lions'  hour  of  drinking  peculiar  to  themselves : 
they  seemed  unwilling  to  visit  the  fountains  with  good  moonlight. 
Thus,  when  the  moon  rose  early,  the  lions  deferred  their  hour  of 
watering  until  late  in  the  morning ;  and  when  the  moon  rose  late, 
they  drank  at  a  very  early  hour,  in  the  night.  By  this  acute 
system  many  a  grisly  lion  saved  his  bacon,  and  is  now*  luxuriating 
in  the  forest  of  South  Africa,  which  had  otherwise  fallen  by  the 
barrels  of  my  "  Westley  Richards."  Owing  to  the  tawny  color 
of  the  coat  with  which  nature  has  robed  him,  he  *s  perfectly 
invisible  in  the  dark ;  and  although  I  have  often  heard  them 
loudly  lapping  the  water  under  my  very  nose,  not  twenty  yards 
from  me,  I  could  not  possibly  make  out  so  much  as  the  outline  of 
their  forms.  When  a  thirsty  lion  comes  to  water,  he  stretches  out 
his  massive  arms,  lies  down  on  his  breast  to  drink,  and  makes  a 
loud  lapping  noise  in  drinking  not  to  be  mistaken.  He  continues 
lapping  up  the  water  for  a  long  whife,  and  four  or  five  times 
during  the  proceeding  he  pauses  for  half  a  minute  as  if  to  take 
breath.  One  thing  conspicuous  about  them  is  their  eyes,  which, 
m  a  dark  night,  glow  like  two  balls  of  fire.  The  female  is  more 
fierce  and  active  than  the  male,  as  a  general  rule.  Lionesses 
which  have  never  had  young  are  much  more  dangerous  than  those 
which  have.  At  no  time  is  the  lion  so  much  to  be  dreaded  as 
when  his  partner  has  got  small  young  ones.  At  that  season  he 
knows  no  fear,  and,  in  the  coolest  and  most  intrepid  manner,  he 
will  face  a  thousand  men.  A  remarkable  instance  of  this  kind 
came  under  my  own  observation,  which  confirmed  the  reports  1 
had  before  heard  from  the  natives.  One  day,  when  out  elephant 
hunting  in  the  territory  of  the  "  Baseieka,"  accompanied  by  two 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  I  was  astonished  suddenly  to  behold  a 
majestic  lion  slowly  and  steadily  advancing  toward  us  with  a 
dignified  step  and  undaunted  bearing,  the  most  noble  and  imposing 
that  can  be  conceived.  Lashing  his  tail  from  side  to  side,  and 
growling  haughtily,  his  terribly  expressive  eye  resolutely  fixed 


HABITS   OP    THE   LION. 


319 


EAST   INDIAN   TIGER. 

apon  us,  and  displaying  a  show  of  ivory  well  calculated,  to  inspire 
terror  among  the  timid  "  Bechuanas,"  he  approached.  A  head- 
long flight  of  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  was  the  immediate 
result ;  and,  in  the  confusion  of  the  moment,  four  couples  of  my 
dogs,  which  they  had  been  leading,  were  allowed  to  escape  in 
their  couples.  These  instantly  faced  the  lion,  who,  finding  that 
by  his  bold  bearing  he  had  succeeded  in  putting  his  enemies  to 
flight,  now  became  solicitous  for  the  safety  of  his  little  family,  with 
which  the  lioness  was  retreating:  in  the  back-ground.  Facing 
about,  he  followed  after  them  with  a  haughty  and  independent 
step,  growling  fiercely  at  the  dogs  which  trotted  along  on  eithei 
side  of  him.  Three  troops  of  elephants  having  been  discovered  a 
few  minutes  previous  to  this,  upon  which  I  was  marching  for  the 
attack,  I,  with  the  most  heartfelt  reluctance,  reserved  my  fire 
On  running  down  the  hill  side  to  endeavor  to  recall  my  dogs,  I 
observed,  for  the  first  time,  the  retreating  lioness  with  four  cubs. 
A.bout  twenty  minutes  afterward  two  noble  elephants  repaid  my 
forbearance. 

Among  Indian  Nimrods,  a  certain  class  of  royal  tigers  is  dig- 
uified  with   the  appellation  of  "  ma-n-eaters."     These  are 


320  HUNTING     AUVENTUKES. 


which,  having  once  tasted  human  flesh,  show  a  predilection  foi 
the  same,  and  such  characters  are  very  naturally  famed  and 
dreaded  among  the  natives.  Elderly  gentlemen  of  similar  tastes 
und  habits  are  occasionally  met  with  among  the  lions  in  the  inte- 
rior of  South  Africa,  and  the  danger  of  such  neighbors  may  be 
easily  imagined.  I  account  for  lions  first  acquiring  this  taste  in  the 
following  manner :  the  Bechuana  tribes  of  the  fax  interior  do  not 
bury  their  dead,  but  unceremoniously  carry  them  forth,  and  leave 
them  lying  exposed  in  the  forest  or  on  the  plain,  a  prey  to  the  lion 
and  hyaena,  or  the  jackal  and  vulture  ;  and  I  can  readily  imagine 
that  a  lion,  having  thus  once  tasted  human  flesh,  would  have  little 
hesitation,  when  opportunity  presented  itself,  of  springing  upon 
and  carrying  off  the  unwary  traveller  or  "  Bechuana"  inhabiting 
his  country.  Be  this  as  it  may,  man-eaters  occur;  and  on  my 
fourth  hunting  expedition,  a  horrible  tragedy  was  acted  one  dark 
night  in  my  little  lonely  camp  by  one  of  these  formidable  cha- 
racters, which  deprived  me,  in  the  far  wilderness,  of  my  most 
valuable  servant.  In  winding  up  these  few  observations  on  the 
lion,  which  I  trust  will  not  have  been  tiresome  to  the  reader,  I 
may  remark  that  lion-hunting,  under  any  circumstances,  is  deci- 
dedly a  dangerous  pursuit.  It  may  nevertheless  be  followed,  to  a 
certain  extent,  with  comparative  safety  by  those  who  have  natu- 
rally a  turn  for  that  sort  of  thing.  A  recklessness  of  death,  per- 
fect coolness  and  self-possession,  an  acquaintance  with  the  dispo- 
sition and  manners  of  lions,  and  a  tolerable  knowledge  of  the  use 
of  the  rifle,  are  indispensable  to  him  who  would  shine  in  the 
overpoweringly  exciting  pastime  of  hunting  this  justly  celebrated 
k >ig  of  beasts.  , 


ELEPHANT    HUNTING    IN    THE    EAST    DUES. 


CHAPTER  LIII. 

BLEPHANT   HUNTING   IN   THE    EAST   INDIES. 

IEUT.-COL.  JAMjSS 
CAMPBELL,  -d.  bravs 
and  talented  officer,  af- 
fords us  the  following 
particulars  of  a  personal 
adventure  in  Ceylon  : — 
1  was  reading  to  beguile 
the  time  during-  the  heat 
of  the  day  (says  the  colo 
nel)  when  one  of  the 
servants  ran  into  our  hut, 
in  gr?at  alarm,  exdaiming 
lhat  he  luid  just  seen  an  elephant  in  a  clump  .»f  trees,  to  which  he 
pointed,  not  more  than  three  hundred  yards  on".  I,  at  least,  had  no 
wish  whatever  to  encounter  such  an  antagonist,  if  1  could  avoid 
doing  so  ;  but  it  was  in  council  deemed  advisable  to  dislodge  him, 
as  otherwise  we  might  have  to  move  our  encampment ;  and  to  do 
•(•  none  of  us  were  inclined.  It  was  therefore  settled  that  we 


824  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


should  attack  him ;  that  is,  if  we  could  not  by  any  other  means  in 
duce  him  to  retire,  and  that  too  without  delay.  Having  carefi'lly 
loaded  our  guns  with  brass  balls,  we  moved  forward  all  three  to- 
gether ;  the  Malays,  who  seemed  greatly  to  enjoy  the  fun,  form  ng 
a  supporting  column  in  our  rear.  It  was  also  arranged,  that  if 
the  elephant  stood  his  ground,  I  was  to  have  the  first  shot;  J  ow 
then  was  it  possible  for  me  not  to  perform  my  part  upon  the  or  :a- 
sion  ?  By  entering  at  a  projecting  point  of  the  jungle,  and  being  '  «,d 
much  against  his  will,  by  the  -servant  who  said  that  he  had  s»-en 
the  elephant,  we  were  able  tr  come  within  a  short  distance  of  h^rn, 
before  he  could  perceive  'is.  When  he  did  so,  or  rather  wnen 
he  heard  the  noise  which  we  could  not  avo;d  making  in  approach- 
ing him,  however  cautiously,  he  suddenly  turned  round  upon  us 
cracking  and  breaking  the  smaller  trees  and  branches,  as  he 
shuffled  forwards  towards  the  edge  of  the  clump  of  jungle,  so  as 
to  face  us.  I  think  we  were  then  not  mo~e  than  fifteen  yards 
from  his  head.  I  fired,  and  my  two  companions  did  so  likewise 
and  with  the  utmost  coolness  ;  when  down  fell  the  huge  creature, 
quite  dead,  almost  at  our  feet !  But  to  our  astonishment,  away 
went  some  other  elephants  and  a  buffalo,  which  we  had  no  idea 
were  in  the  middle  of  the  cover,  trumpeting  loudly  and  crashing 
every  thing  that  obstructed  their  passage ;  and  most  fortunately 
for  us,  they  did  not  seem  to  have  missed  their  unlucky  companion, 
as  we  could  hear  them,  for  some  time,  continuing  their  impetuous 
course  through  the  jungle,  and  towards  the  wooded  hills  to  the 
eastward.  As  for  the  buffalo,  in  her  hurried  attempt  to  escape, 
she  took  to  the  right  and  thus  fully  exposing  herself,  Mr.  F  — 
fired  his  second  barrel  at  her,  which  breaking  one  of  her  for*-  legs 
she  fell,  with  a  great  crash,  not  more  than  twelve  yards  frum  us ; 

and  wh.ist  she  was  endeavoring  to  rise,  Mr.  C seru  the  bal. 

frorr.  his  other  barrel  through  her  body,  which  instantly  ended  hei 
sufferings.  I  confess,  however,  I  should  have  been  glad  had  she 
escaped,  as  she  seemed  to  be  only  half  wild.  We  had  in  this 
instance  managed  admirably,  and  we  were  therefore  not  a  little 
proud  of  ourselves  ;  for  upon  examining  the  elephant,  which, 
hough  "urge,  had  very  short  tusks,  we  tound  that  no  .less  than 


ELEPHANT    HUNTING    tN    THE    EAST    INDIES.  325 


two  of  the  balls  had  entered  the  brain,  and  the  third  had  penetrated 
the  head  from  the  root  of  the  trunk.  This  feat  was  performed  and 
were  all  back  in  the  huts,  talking  the  matter  over,  in  less  than 
half  an  hour  from  the  time  we  had  left  them. 

The  young  elephants  which  are  reared  in  the  British  Indian 
settlements  are  principally  produced  by  the  females  that  are  taken 
wild  at  the  time  they  are  in  calf.  It  does  not  appear  that  there  is 
any  difficulty  in  the  education  of  these  little  ones,  who  are  accus- 
tomed to  a  domestic  state  from  their  birth  ;  but  that  they  are 
gradually  accustomed  to  bear  burthens,  and  become  obedient  to 
the  commands  of  their  keepers.  In  the  kingdom  of  Ava,  where  the 
female  elephants  belonging  to  the  king  are  in  a  state  of  half  wild- 
ness,  there  is  considerable  trouble  in  reducing  the  young  ones  to 
submission. 

When  we  consider  the  enormous  strength  of  the  elephant, 
which  enables  him  to  break  through  all  ordinary  means  of  confine- 
ment, and  at  the  same  time  regard  not  only  his  ability  to  resist 
any  violent  attack,  but  his  sagacity  to  elude  any  common  stratagem, 
it  must  be  evident  that  the  business  of  his  capture  must  be  a  task 
requiring  equal  courage  and  activity — great  skill  and  presence  of 
mind  in  the  individuals  engaged  in  it — and,  when  conducted  upon 
a  large  scale,  a  combination  of  human  force  such  as  is  seldom  used 
except  in  the  more  prodigal  game  of  war. 

The  rudest  mode  of  taking  the  elephant  is  by  digging  a  pit  in 
his  native  forests,  which  is  covered  over  with  loose  boa-rds  and  the 
boughs  and  grass  upon  which  he  feeds.  This  is  mentioned  as  the 
custom  of  Ceylon  a  century  ago  ;  and  the  Sieur  Brue  describes 
this  as  the  mode  of  taking  the  elephant  for  his  flesh,  by  the  Afri 
cans  of  Senegal.  Mr.  Williamson  states  that  in  places  where  the 
natives  find  the  elephants  destructive  neighbors,  they  dig  a  pit 
covered  with  a  slight  platform  of  branches  and  grass,  towards 
which  the  herd  is  seduced  by  a  tame  elephant,  when  the  leading 
pursuer  is  precipitated  into  the  trap,  and  the  remainder  retire  in 
great  alarm.  This  practice  is  evidently  not  very  successful ;  and 
we  apprehend  that  the  instinctive  caution  of  the  elephant  not  to 
tread  upon  my  insecure  ground  must  render  it  unavailing,  except 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 

when  his  natural  prudence  gives  way  to  the  more  powerful  im 
pulses  of  terror  or  desire.  "The  mode  of  getting  elephants  out 
of  pits,"  according  to  Mr.  Williamson,  '"  is  somewhat  curious,  but 
extremely  simple.  The  animal  is  for  the  most  part  retained  unti, 
sufficiently  tractable  to  be  conducted  forth  ;  when  large  bundles  of 
jungle  grass  tied  up  into  sheaves  being  thrown  to  him,  he  is  gra- 
dually brought  to  the  surface,  at  least  to  such  an  elevation  as  may 
enable  him  to  step  out."  The  elephant  will  do  the  same  if  he  is 
swamped  in  boggy  ground,  thrusting  the  bundles  of  grass  and 
straw  into  the  yielding  earth  with  his  heavy  feet,  and  placing 
th*-m  so  around  him  with  his  trunk  that  he  at  lasts  obtains  a  firm 
footing.  Pliny,  who  mentions  the  manner  of  taking  elephants  in 
pits,  says  that  the  companions  of  the  unfortunate  animal  who  is 
thus  captured  will  throw  branches  and  masses  of  earth  into  the 
hole  to  assist  in  his  deliverance. 

In  Nepaul,  and  in  the  countries  bordering  on  the  northern  fron- 
tiers of  India,  where  the  elephants  are  of  a  small  size,  they  are 
often  captured  by  the  natives  with  a  phaun,  or  slip  knot.  Thrs 
practice  has  some  analogy  with  the  custom  of  taking  horses  with 
the  lasso,  m  the  Pampas.  The  hunter,  seated  on  a  docile  ele- 
phant, round  whose  body  the  cord  is  fastened,  singles  out  one 
from  the  wild  herd  ;  and  cautiously  approaching,  throws  his  pliable; 
rope  in  such  a  manner  that  it  rests  behind  the  ears,  and  over  the 
brows  of  the  animal  pursued.  He  instinctively  curls  up  his  trunk, 
making  an  effort  to  remove  the  rope  ;  which,  with  great  adroitness 
on  the  part  of  the  hunter,  is  then  passed  forward  over  the  neck. 
Another  hunter  next  comes  up,  who  repeats  the  process  ;  and 
thus  the  creature  is  held  by  the  two  tame  elephants,  to  whom 
the  phauns  are  attached,  till  his  strength  is  exhausted.  It  would 
appear  quite  impossible  to  take  a  large  elephant  in  this  manner ; 
although  with  those  of  a  peculiarly  small  breed  the  operation  doe? 
not  appear  more  difficult  than  that  of  securing  the  wild  horse  or 
the  buffalo  in  the  plains  of  South  America. 

It  is  remarkable  that  in  every  mode  of  capturing  the  wild  ele- 
phant, man  avails  himself  of  the  docility  of  individuals  of  the  same 
upecies,  which  he  has  already  subdued.  Birds  may  be  taught  to 


ELEPHANT    HUNTING    IN    TITE    EAST    INDIES.  327 


assist  in  ensnaring  other  birds  ;  but  this  is  simply  an  effect  of  habit 
The  elephant,  on  the  contrary,  has  an  evident  desire  to  join  its 
master  in  subduing  its  own  race  ;  and,  in  this  treachery  to  its  kind, 
exercises  so  much  ingenuity,  courage,  and  perseverance,  that  we 
cannot  find  a  parallel  instance  of  complete  subjection  to  the  will  of 
him  to  whom  it  was  given  to  "  have  dominion  over  the  fish  of  the 
sea,  and  over  the  fowl  oi  the  air,  and  over  every  living  thing  that 
moveth  upon  the  earth." 

The  various  modes  of  capturing  wild  elephants  in  India  have 
undergone  little  variation  for  several  centuries  ;  and  they  are  more 
or  less  practised  in  all  parts  of  Asia  where  elephants  are  still  re- 
quired to  maintain  the  splendor  of  Oriental  luxury — to  assist  in 
the  pomp  and  administer  to  the  pride  of  despotic  monarc-hs  ,  or,  as 
is  the  case  in  the  British  Eastern  establishments,  to  bear  the  heavy 
equipage  of  an  Indian  camp,  or  to  labor  in  the  peaceful  occupa- 
tions of  transporting  those  articles  of  commerce,  which  are  far  too 
weighty  to  be  moved  by  the  power  of  the  horse  or  camel. 


328 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


THE  SABLE. 

CHAPTER  LIV. 

HUNTING   THE    MARTEN,    SABLE,   GENET   AND    CIVET. 

HE  Pine  Marten,  a  native  of  the  North,  and  an  in- 
habitant'of  the  pine  forests,  whence  it  derives  ita 
name,  is  abundant  in  Siberia  and  the  northern  por- 
tions of  America,  and  is  not  uncommon  among  the 
wooded  ravines  in  the  wild  mountainous  districts 
of  Scotland  and  Wales.  It  builds  its  habitation  chiefly  on  the  tops 
of  the  fir,  or  seizes  on  the  already  formed  nest  of  the  squirrel,  or 
some  bird,  whence  it  drives  the  owner,  and  enlarges  for  its  own 
convenience.  It  is  rather  less  than  the  former,  but  its  fur  is  finer 
and  darker,  and  the  throat  and  breast  yellow,  instead  of  white. 
In  summer  they  assume  a  lighter  tinge,  and  their  hair  becomes 
shorter :  in  winter  their  toes  are  well  protected  by  long  wool,  which 
drops  off  as  the  weather  gets  warm.  Its  habits  are  similar  to  the 
common  Marten,  but  more  fierce  ;  it  never  meets  the  wild  cat 
without  a  deadly  encounter,  and  is  sometimes  victorious  even  over 
the  golden  eagle,  when  that  bird  pounces  on  it  as  its  prey,  seizing 
the  aggressor  by  the  throat,  and  bringing  it  lifeless  to  the  gnrmd 
Formerly,  the  fur  of  this  species  formed  a  lucrative  article  of  export 
from  Scotland  ;  at  present  immense  quantities  are  brought  from 
Siberia,  and  in  one  year,  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  alone  sold 
fifteen  thousand  skins. 

The  Sable  inhabits  the  same  countries  in  the  North,  and  has 
sometimes  been  confounded  with  the  former  which  it  strongly  icsem* 
bles  in  structure  and  habits ;  but  Professor  Pauas,  who  examined  it  ou 


HUNTING    THE    CIVET.  331 


THE   CIVET. 

its  native  soil,  has  assigned  it  its  place  as  a  distinct  species.  It  is 
somewhat  larger  in  size  than  the  pine  marten  ;  its  head  is  Either  more 
slightly  depressed,  and  its  muzzle  rather  more  elongated  ;  the  soles 
of  the  feet  more  villous,  and  finally,  the  fur  on  its  body  is  more  beauti- 
ful, soft,  long,  black,  and  shining,  and  the  hair  turns  with  ease  either 
way  ;  the  skin  is  consequently  more  valuable,  and  one  of  them  not 
exceeding  four  inches  broad,  has  sometimes  been  valued  as  high 
as  fifteen  pounds.  The  tails  are  sold  by  the  hundred,  at  from  four 
to  eight  pounds  sterling.  The  exiles  in  Siberia  are  required  to 
famish  a  certain  number  of  skins  annually,  from  which  the  Rus- 
sian government  is  said  to  derive"  a  considerable  revenue.  The 
smell  of  the  marten  tribe  is  rather  agreeable.  They  are  taken  in 
traps  and  also  hunted  with  the  musket. 

The  Civet,  a  native  of  the  warmest  climates  of  Africa  and  Asia, 
can  yet  subsist  in  more  temperate  latitudes :  it  is  upwards  of  two 
feet  in  length,  exclusive  of  the  tail,  which  is  more  than  one  foot, 
and  tapering.  It  stands  from  ten  to  twelve  inches  high  ;  has  a 
lengthened  muzzle  like  a  fox,  straight  ears,  whiskers  like  a  cat,  with 
bright  eyes.  Their  fur  is  of  a  brownish-grey  color,  diversified 
with  numerous  stripes  and  ».  egular  spots  of  black  ;  along  the 
dorsal  runs  a  kind  of  mane  formed  of  black  hairs,  which  the 
animal  cftn  raise  or  depress  at  pleasure.  It  is  a  fierce  creature, 
and  though  tamed,  is  yet  never  thoroughly  familiar ;  its  food,  like 
..hat  of  the  rest  of  the  family,  is  birds  and  small  animals.  The 
perfume,  for  which  it  is  particularly  valued,  is  very  strong,  and  i» 
found,  of  the  color  and  consistence  of  pomatum,  in  a  pouch  unctei 


332  HUNTING     ^BV  ENTIRES. 


THE    GENET 


»he  anus.  Great  numbers  were  wont  to  be  bred  in  Holland,  where 
no  small  emolument  was  derived  from  this  luxury.  The  quantity 
which  a  single  animal  affords,  depends  upon  its  health  and 
nourishment :  in  confinement,  its  favorite  food  is  raw  flesh  cut 
small,  eggs,  rice,  fowl,  and  fish.  The  perfume  is  collected  twice 
or  thrice  a  week,  and  is  said  to  be  more  plentiful  if  the  animal  be 
irritated.  That  of  Amsterdam  is  recorded  the  best,  being  gener- 
ally the  purest,  though  that  brought  from  Guinea  would  exceed  it, 
could  it  be  procured  free  from  adulteration. — The  Javanese  Civet 
is  not  more  than  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  inches  long:  the  muzzle 
is  narrow,  the  ears  short,  the  back  strongly  arched,  and  the  tail 
is  as  long  as  the  body.  The  ground  color  of  the  fur  is  of  a  much 
brighter  grey  than  that  of  the  common  civet,  surmounted  with  a 
broad  dorsal  line  of  black,  and  on  each  side  two  or  three  narrower 
black  lines  of  confluent  spots.  Over  the  rest  of  the  body  these 
spots  are  thickly  but  irregularly  scattered.  The  head  is  greyish 
and  has  no  spots ;  and  the  legs  are  externally  black.  They  livr 
on  animal  and  vegetable  food,  and  are  said  to  be  revengeful  and 
savage. 

The  Genet,  a  native  of  Spain,  Africa,  and  the  South  of  Asia, 
is  smaller  than  the  civet,  and  somewhat  longer  than  the  marten, 
but  in  its  leading  characters  resembles  the  former:  it  secretes  also 
a  perfume  similar  to  the  civet,  but  less  strong,  and  therefore  more 
agreeable  :  it  is  easily  tamed,  is  very  cleanly,  and  keep^s  houses 
perfectly  free  from  rats  and  mice.  All  these  animals  are  taken  in 
traps. 

Opposed  to  these  sweet-smelling  weasels,  at  the  extreme''*  point 
is  the  Skunk,  peculiar  to  North  America :  in  length  it  IB  ubou 


HUNTING    THE    SKUNK.  333 


TIIE  SKUNK. 


eighteen  inches ;  its  legs  are  short,  and  its  body  broad  and  flat ; 
scarcely  two  of  them  are  colored  alike,  but  they  generally  are 
black  or  brown,  with  white  spots  or  stripes.  In  its  "appetite  foi 
petty  carnages,  it  emulates  any  of  the  tribe  ;  but  what  renders  it 
chiefly  remarkable,  is  the  fetid  odor  which  it  discharges  upon 
its  assailants  when  attacked,  who,  be  they  men  or  dogs,  as  soon  as 
they  find  this  extraordinary  battery  played  off  against  them,  in- 
stantly turn  tail  and  leave  the  animal  undisputed  master  of  the 
field,  glad  to  escape  from  the  intolerable  stench,  perhaps  smarting 
with  pain,  if  the  approach  be  too  near,  so  as  to*  allow  a  drop  of 
the  pestilent  fluid  to  strike  the  eye.  The  hunting  of  the  skunk  is 
not  a  favorite  sport.  It  is  usually  shot,  whenever  discovered  fcy 
the  farmers,  whose  poultry  he  is  very  muck  addicted  to  stealing 


334 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER  LV. 

KILLING,   CUTTING    UP,   COOKING   AND    EATING   AN   ELEPHANT, 

T  an  early  hour  on  the  24th,  says  Mr.  Gum- 
ming, upon  the  strength  of  the  report  brought 
to  us  .on  the  preceding  evening,  I  took  the 
field  with  Isaac  and  Kleinboy  as  after- riders, 
accompanied  by  Mutchuisho  and  a  hundred 
and  fifty  of  his  tribe.  We  held  a  north- 
easterly course,  and,  having  proceeded  about 
five  miles  through  the  forest,  reached  a  foun- 
tain, where  I  observed  the  spoor  of  a  herd  of  cow  elephants,  two 
days  old.  Here  we  made  a  short  halt,  and  snufFwas  briskly  cir- 
culated, while  the  leading  men  debated  on  the  course  we  were  to 
follow,  and  it  was  agreed  th;.t  we  should  hold  for  the  Bakalahan 
kraal.  Having  continued  our  course  for  several  miles,  we  rounded 
the  northern  extremity  of  a  range  of  rocky  mountains  which  rose 
abruptly  in  the  forest  and  stretched  away  to  the  south  of  east  in 
a  long-continued  chain.  Here  we  were  met  by  men  whom  Mut- 
chuisho had  dispatched  before  day-break,  who  said  that  the  Baka- 


SEARCH    FOR    ELEPHANTS.  335 


Jahari  women  had  that  morning  sesn  elephants.  This  was  joyous 
news.  My  hopes  were  high,  and  I  at  once  felt  certain  that  the 
hour  of  triumph  was  at  hand.  But  disappointment  was  still  in 
store  for  rne.  We  all  sat  dovvn  on  the  grass,  while  wen  were 
dispatched  to  bring  the  Bakalahari,  and  when  these  came  we 
ascertained  that  it  was  only  spoor  and  not  elephants  they  had 
seen.  We  held  en  for  an  inspection  of  it;  and  here  I  was  further 
to  be  disappointed,  the  spoor  proving  to  be  two  days  old. 

The  country  now  before  me  was  a  vast  level  forest,  extending 
to  the  north  and  east  for  about  twenty  miles  without  a  break.  At 
that  distance,  however,  the  landscape  was  shut  in  by  blue  moufa- 
tain  ranges  of  considerable  height,  and  two  bold  conical  moun- 
tains standing  close  together  rose  conspicuous  above  the  rest. 
These  mountains,  the  Bamangwato  men  informed  me,  were  their 
ancient  habitation,  and  that  of  their  forefathers,  but  the  cruel  Mata- 
bili  had  driven  them  from  thence  to  the  rocky  mountains  which 
they  now  occupy.  We  continued  our  course  in  an  easterly  direc- 
tion, and  twice  crossed  the  gravelly  bed  of  a  periodical  river,  in 
which  were  several  small  springs  of  excellent  water.  These 
springs  had  been  exposed  by  elephants,  which  had  cleared  away 
the  gravel  with  their  trunks.  Around  these  springs  the  spoor  o; 
rhinoceros  was  abundant.  After  proceeding  several  miles  through 
a  dry  and  barren  tract,  where  wait-a-bit  thorns  prevailed,  wm 
entered  upon  more  interesting  ground.  The  forest  was  adorned 
with  very  picturesque  old  trees  of  various  sorts  and  sizes,  which 
stood  singly  and  in  shady  groups,  while  the  main  body  of  the 
forest  consisted  of  a  variety  of  trees  of  other  sorts,  averaging,  the 
height  of  a  giraffe.  The  elephants  had  left  abundant  traces  of 
their  presence,  but  all  the  marks  were  old.  Fresh  spoor  of  giraffe 
was  imprinted  on  the  ground  on  every  side,  and  we  presently  saw 
9  large  herd  of  these,  standing  scattered  through  the  forest  to  our 
left.  They  were  glorious  fellows,  but  I  was  now  in  pursuit  of 
nobler  game :  the  natives  were  leading  me  to  some  distant  foun- 
tain, where  they  expected  we  should  discover  spoor. 

On  we  sped  through  the  depths  of  the  forest,  our  view  being 
tonfined   to  about  fifty  yards  on  every  side.     Presently  emerging 


336  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


Upon  a  small  open  glade,  I  observed  a  herd  of  brindled  gnoos  and 
two  or  three  troops  of  pallahs ;  and  soon  after,  a  second  herd  of 
about  fifteen  camelopards  stood  browsing  before  us,  and,  getting 
our  wind,  dashed  away  to  our  left^  We  had  proceeded  about  two 
miles  further,  and  it  was  now  within  two  hours  of  sunset,  when, 
lo !  a  thorny  tree,  newly  smashed  by  an  elephant.  Some  of  the 
natives  attentively  examined  the  leaves  of  the  broken  branches  to 
ascertain  exactly  when  he  had  been  there,  while  some  for  the 
same  purpose  overhauled  the  spoor.  It  was  the  spoor  of  a  first- 
rate  bull:  he  had  fed  there  that  morning  at  the  dawn  of  day 
The  ground  was  hard  and  bad  for  spooring,  but  the  natives 
evinced  great  skill,  and,  following  it  for  a  short  distance,  we  came 
to  ground  where  a  troop  of  bull  elephants  had  pastured  not  many 
hours  before.  Here  the  thorny  trees  on  every  side  were  demo 
lished  by  them,  and  huge  branches  and  entire  trees  were  rent  and 
uprooted,  and  Jay  scattered  across  our  path,  having  been  carried 
several  yards  in  the  trunks  of  the  elephants  before  they  stood  to 
eat  the  leaves  :  the  ground  also  was  here  and  there  plowed  up  by 
their  tusks  in  quest  of  roots  ;  and  in  these  places  the  enormous 
fresh  spoor — that  thrilling  sight  to  a  hunter's  eye — was  beauti- 
fully visible. 

All  this  was  extremely  interesting  and  gratifying  ;  but  I  had 
Jbeen  so  often  disappointed,  and  it  was  now  so  very  near  sunset, 
that  I  entertained  but  faint  hopes  of  finding  them  that  evening. 
Mutchuisho  was  very  anxious  that  I  should  see  the  elephants  ;  he 
had  divested  himself  of  his  kaross,  and,  carrying  one  of  the  mus- 
kets which  Sicomy  had  bought  from  me,  he  led  the  spooring 
party,  consisting  of  about  fifteen  cunning  old  hands.  The  great 
body  of  the  men  he  had  ordered  to  sit  down  and  remain  quiet 
until  the  attack  commenced.  Having  followed  the  spoor  for  a 
short  distance,  old  Mutchuisho  became  extremely  excited,  and 
told  <ne  that  we  were  close  to  the  elephants.  A  few  minutes  after 
several  of  the  spoorers  affirmed  that  they  had  heard  the  elephants 
break  a  tree  in  advance  ;  they  differed,  however,  about  the  direc- 
tion, some  saying  it  was  in  front,  and  others  that  it  was  away  to 
our  left.  Two  or  three  men  quickly  ascended  the  tallest  tree* 


DISCUVEIl    A    HEllb    OF    BULL    ELEPHANTS.  337 


Umt  stood  near  us,  but  they  could  not  see  the  elepnants.  Mut- 
ch uisho  tnen  extended  men  to  the  right  and  left,  while  we  con- 
tinued on  the  spoor. 

In  a  few  minutes  one  of  those  who  had  gone  off  to  our  left  came 
running  breathless  to  say  that  he  had  seen  the  mighty  game.  I 
halted  for  a  minute,  and  instructed  Isaac,  who  carried  the  big 
Dutch  rifle,  to  act  independently  of  me,  while  Kleinboy  was  to 
assist  me  in  the  chase  ;  but,  as  usual,  when  the  row  began,  my 
followers  thought  only  of  number  one.  I  bared  my  arms  to  the 
shoulder,  and,  having  imbibed  a  draught  of  aqua  pura  from  the 
calabash  of  one  of  the  spoorers,  I  grasped  my  trusty  two-grooved 
rifle,  and  told  my  guide  to  go  ahead.  We  proceeded  silently  as 
might  be  for  a  few  hundred  yards,  following  the  guide,  when  he 
suddenly  minted,  exclaiming,  "  Klow !"  and  befotr,  vs  stood  a 
herd  of  mighty  bull  elephants,  packed  together  beuwih  a  shady 
grove  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  advance.  I  rode  slowly 
toward  them,  and,  as  soon  as  they  observed  me,  they  made  a  loud 
rumbling  noise,  and,  tossing  their  trunks,  wheeled  right  about  and 
made  off  in  one  direction,  crashing  through  the  forest  and  leaving 
a  cloud  of  dust  behind  them.  I  was  accompanied  by  a  detach- 
ment of  my  dogs,  who  assisted  me  in  the  pursuit. 

The  distance  I  had  come,  and  the  difficulties  I  had  undergone, 
to  behold  these  elephants,  rose  fresh  before  me.  I  determined 
that  on  this  occasion  at  least  I  would  do  my  duty,  and,  dashing 
my  spurs  into  «  Sunday's"  ribs,  I  was  very  soon  much  too  close 
in  their  rear  for  safety.  The  elephants  now  made  an  inclination 
to  my  left,  whereby  I  obtained  a  good  view  of  the  ivory.  The 
herd  consisted  of  six  bulls  ;  four  of  them  were  full-grown,  first-rate 
elephants ;  the  other  two  were  fine  fellows,  but  had  not  yet  • 
arrived  at  perfect  stature.  Of  the  four  old  fellows,  two  had  much 
finer  tusks  than  the  rest,  and  for  a  few  seconds  1  was  undecided 
which  of  these  two  1  would  follow ;  when,  suddenly,  the  one 
which  I  fancied  had  the  stoutest  tusks  broke  from  his  comrades, 
and  f  at  once  felt  convinced  that  he  was  the  patriarch  of  the  herd, 
and  followed  him  accordingly.  Cantering  alongside,  I  was  about 
to  fire,  when  he  instantly  turned,  and-,  uttering  a  t*  impel  so  strong 

22 


338  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


and  shrill  that  the  earth  seemed  to  vibrate  beneath  ciy  fee-t,  he 
charged  furiously  after  me  for  several  hundred  yards  in  a  direct 
line,  not  altering  his  course  in  the  slightest  degree  for  the  trees  of 
the  forest,  which  he  snapped  and  overthrew  like  reeds  in  his 
headlong  career. 

When  he  pulled  up  in  his  charge,  I  likewise  halted  ;  and  as  he 
slowly  turned  to  retreat,  I  let  fly  at  his  shoulder,  "  Sunday"  caper- 
ing and  prancing,  and  giving  me  much  trouble.  On  receiving  the 
ball  the  elephant  shrugged  his  shoulder,  and  made  off  at  a  free 
majestic  walk.  This  shot  brought  several  of  the  dogs  to  my  assist- 
ance which  had  been  following  the  other  elephants,  and  on  their 
coming  up  and  barking  another  headlong  charge  was  the  result, 
accompanied  by  the  never-failing  trumpet  as  before.  In  his 
charge  he  passed  close  to  me,  when  I  saluted  him  with  a  second 
bullet  in  the  shoulder,  of  which  he  did  not  take  the  slightest 
notice.  I  now  determined  not  to  fire  again  until  I  could  make  a 
steady  shot ;  but,  although  the  elephant  turned  repeatedly,  (e  Sun- 
day" invariably  disappointed  me,  capering  so  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  fire.  At  length,  exasperated,  I  became  reckless  of  the 
danger,,  and,  springing  from  the  saddle,  approached  the  elephant 
under  cover  of  a  tree,  ana  gave  him  a  bullet  in  the  side  of  the 
head,  when,  trumpeting  so  shrilly  that  the  forest  trembled,  he 
charged  among  the  dogs,  from  whom  he  seemed  to  fancy  that  the 
blow  had  come  ;  after  which  he  took  up  a  position  in  a  grove  of 
thorns,  with  his  head  toward  me.  I  walked  up  very  near,  and, 
as  he  was  in  the  act  of  charging  (being  in  those  days  under  wrong 
impressions  as  to  the  impracticability  of  bringing  down  an  elephant 
with  a  shot  in  the  forehead),  stood  coolly  m  his  path  until  he  was 
within  fifteen  paces  of  me,  and  let  drive  at  the  hollow  of  his  fore- 
head, in  the  vain  expectation  that  by  so  doing  I  should  end  his 
career.  The  shot  only  served  to  increase  his  fury — an  effect 
which,  I  had  remarked,  shots  in  the  head  invariably  produced ; 
tmd,  continuing  his  charge  with  incredible  quickness  and  impetu- 
osity, he  all  but  terminated  my  elephant-hunting  forever.  A  large 
party  of  the  Bechuanas  who  had. come  up  yelled  out  simultane- 
ously, imagining  I  was  killed,  for  the  elephant  was  at  one  moment 


THE   CONFLICT.  339 


almost  on  the  top  of  me  :  I,  however,  escaped  by  my  activity,  and 
by  dodging  round  the  bushy  trees.  As  the  elephant  was  charging, 
an  enormous  thorn  ran  deep  into  the  sole  of  my  foot,  the  old 
Badencch  brogues,  which  I  that  day  sported,  being  worn  through ; 
and  this  caused  me  severe  pain,  laming  me  throughout  the  rest  of 
the  conflict. 

The  elephant  held  on  through  the  forest  at  a  sweeping  pace  ; 
but  he  was  hardly  out  of  sight  when  I  was  loaded  and  in  the 
saddle,  and  soon  once  more  alongside.  About  this  time  I  heard 
[saac  blazing  away  at  another  bull ;  but  when  the  elephant 
charged,  his  cowardly  heart  failed  him,  and  he  very  soon  made 
his  appearance  at  a  safe  distance  in  my  rear.  My  elephant  kept 
crashing  along  at  a  steady  pace,  with  blood  streaming  from  his 
wounds ;  the  dogs,  which  were  knocked  up  with  fatigue  and 
thirst,  no  longer  barked  around  him,  but  had  dropped  astern.  It 
was  long'  before  I  again  fired,  for  I  was  afraid  to  dismount,  and 
t(  Sunday"  was  extremely  troublesome.  At  length  I  fired  sharp 
right  and  left  from  the  saddle ;  he  got  both  balls  behind  the 
shoulder,  and  made  a  long  charge  after  me,  rumbling  and  trum- 
peting as  before.  The  whole  body  of  the  Bamangwato  men  had 
now  come  up,  and  were  following  a  short  distance  behind  me. 
Among  these  was  Mollyeon,  who  volunteered  to  help  ;  and  being 
a  very  swift  and  active  fellow,  he  rendered  me  important  service 
by  holding  my  fidgety  horse's  head  while  I  fired  and  loaded.  I 
then  fired  six  broadsides  from  the  saddle,  the  elephant  charging 
almost  every  time,  and  pursuing  us  back  to  the  main  body  in  our 
rear,  who  fled  m  all  directions  as  he  approached. 

The  sun  had  now  sunk  behind  the  tops  of  the  trees :  it  would 
very  soon  be  dark,  and  the  elephant  did  not  seem  much  distressed, 
notwithstanding  all  he  had  received.  I  recollected  that  my  time 
was  short,  and  therefore  at  once  resolved  to  fire  no  more  from  the 
saddle,  but  to  go  close  up  to  him  and  fire  on  foot.  Riding  up  to 
him,  I  dismounted,  and,  approaching  very  near,  I  gave  it  him 
right  and  left  in  the  side  of  the  head,  upon  which  he  made  a  long 
and  determined  charge  after  me  ;  but  I  was  now  very  reckless  of 
his  charges,  for  I  saw  that  he  could  not  overtake  me,  and  in  a 


340  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


twinkling  I  was  loaded,  and,  again  approaching,  fiied  sharp  rigli" 
and  left  behind  his  shoulder.  Again  he  charged  with  a  terrific 
trumpet,  -which  sent  "  Sunday''  flying  through  the  forest.  This 
was  his  last  charge.  The  wounds  which  he  had  received  began 
to  tell  on  h?'s  constitution,  and  he  now  stood  at  bay  beside  a 
thorny  tree,  with  the  dogs  barking  around  him.  These,  refreshed 
by  the  evening  breeze,  and  perceiving  that  it  was  nearly  over  with 
the  elephant,  had  once  more  come  to  my  assistance.  Having 
loaded,  I  drew  near  and  fired  right  and  left  at  his  forehead.  On 
receiving  these  shots,  instead  of  charging,  he  tossed  his  trunk  up 
and  down,  and  by  various  sounds  and  motions,  most  gratifying  to 
the.  hungry  natives,  evinced  that  his  demise  was  near.  Again  I 
loaded,  and  fired  my  last  shot  behind  his  shoulder:  on  receiving 
it,  he  turned  round  the  bushy  tree  beside  which  he  stood,  and  I 
ran  round  to  give  him  the  other  barrel,  but  the  mighty  old  monarch 
of  the  forest  needed  no  more  ;  before  I  could  clear  the  bushy  tree 
he  fell  heavily  on  his  side,  and  his  spirit  had  fled.  My  feelings 
at  this  moment  can  only  be  understood  by  a  few  brother  Nimrods 
who  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  enjoy  a  similar  encounter.  I 
never  felt  so  gratified  on  any  former  occasion  as  I  did  then. 

By  this  time  all  the  natives  had  come  up  ;  they  were  in  the 
highest  spirits,  and  flocked  around  the  elephant,  laughing  and 
talking  at  a  rapid  pace.  I  clrmbed  on  to  him,  and  sat  enthroned 
upon  his  side,  which  was  as  high  as  my  eyes  when  standing  on 
the  ground.  In  a  few  minutes  night  set  in,  when  the  natives, 
having  illuminated  the  jungle  with  a  score  of  fires,  and  formed  a 
semicircle  of  bushes  to  windward,  lay  down  to  rest  without  par 
taking  of  a  morsel  of  food.  Mutchuisho 'would  not  allow  a  man  to 
put  an  assagai  into  the  elephant  until  the  morrow,  and  placed  two 
relays  of  sentries  to  watch  on  either  side  of  him.  My  dinner  con- 
sisted of  a  piece  of  flesh  from  the  temple  of  the  elephant,  which  I 
broiled  on  the  hot  embers.  In  the  conflict  I  had  lost  rriy  shirU 
which  was  reduced  to  streamers  by  the  wait-a-bit  thorns,  and  all 
the  clothing  that  remained  was  a  pair  of  buckskin  knee-breeches. 

The  night  was  very  cold,  it  being  now  the  dead  of  the  African 
winter.  Hav:ng  collected  dry  grass,  I  spread  it  bes'de  a  fire, 


CUTTING  UP  THE  ELEPHANT.  341 


and  lay  down  for  the  night  with  no  other  covering  than  an  old 
sheep-skin  which  I  had  used  for  a  saddle-cloth.  Shortly  after 
I  had  dropped  asleep,  Mutchuisho,  commiserating  my  bare  con- 
dition, spread  an  old  jackal  kaross  over  me.  This  kaross,  as  all 
Bechuana  garments  are,- was  thickly  tenanted  by  small  transparent 
insects,  usually  denominated  lice.  These  virulent  creatures,  pro- 
bably finding  my  skin  more  tender  than  that  of  the  owner  of  the 
kaross,  seemed  resolved  to  enjoy  a  banquet  while  they  could  ;  and 
presently  I  awoke  with  my  whole  body  so  poisoned  and  inflamed 
that  I  felt  as  if  attacked  with  a  severe  fever.  All  further  rest  that 
night  was  at  an  end.  I  returned  the  kaross  to  Mutchuisho,  with 
grateful  acknowledgments  for  his  polite  intentions  ;  and  piling  dry 
wood  on  the  fire,  which  emitted  a  light  as  bright  as  day,  I  aroused 
the  slumbering  Kleinboy  to  assist  me  in  turning  my  buckskins 
outside  in,  when  an  animating  "  chasse"  commenced,  which  termi 
nated  in  the  capture  of  about  fourscore  of  my  white-currant  colored 
visitors.  I  then  lit  another  fire  opposite  to  the  first,  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  the  night  squatted  between  the  two,  thus  imbibing 
caloric  before  and  behind. 

As  the  sun  rose  on  the  morning  of  the  25th,  Mutchuisho  gave 
the  word  to  cut  up  the  elephant,  when  a  scene  of  blood,  noise,  and 
turmoil  ensued  which  baffles  all  description.  Every  native  there, 
divested  of  his  kaross  and  armed  with  an  assagai,  rushed  to  the 
onslaught ;  and  in  less  than  two  hours  every  inch  of  the  elephant 
was  gone,  and  carried  by  the  different  parties  to  their  respective 
temporary  locations,  which  they  had  chosen  beneath  each  con- 
venient tree  that  grew  around. 

The  manner  in  which  the  elephant  is  cut  up  is  as  follows:  The 
rough  outer  skin  is  first  removed,  in  large  'sheets,  from  the  side 
which  lies  uppermost.  Several  coats  of  an  under  skin  are  then 
met  with.  This  skin  is  of  a  tough  and  pliant  nature,  and  /s  used 
by  the  natives  for  making  water-bags,  in  which  they  convey  sup- 
plies of  water  from  the  nearest  vley  or  fountain  (which  is  often  ten 
miles  distant)  to  the  elephant.  They  remove  this  inner  skin  with 
caution,  taking  care  not  to  cut  it  w''h  the  assagai ;  and  it  is  formed 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 

nto  water-bags  by  gathering  the  corners  and  edges,  and  transfix 
ng  the  whole  on  a  pointed  wand.  The  flesh  is  then  removed  in 
Miormous  sheets  from  the  ribs,  when  the  hatchets  come  into  play, 
with  which  they  chop  through,  and  remove  individually,  each 
colossal  rib.  The  bowels  are  thus  laid  bare  ;  and  in  the  removal 
of  these  the  leading  men  take  a  lively  interest  and  active  part,  for 
it  is  throughout  and  around  the  bowels  that  the  fat  of  the  elephant 
is  mainly  found. 

There  are  few  things  which  a  Bechuana  prizes  so  highly  as  fat 
of  any  description  ;  they  will  go  an  amazing  distance  for  a  small 
portion  of  it.  They  use  it  principally  in  cooking  their  sun-dried 
biltongue,  and  they  also  eat  it  with  their  corn.  The  fat  of  the 
elephant  lies  in  extensive  layers  and  sheets  in  his  inside,  and  the 
quantity  which  is  obtained  from  a  full-grown  bull,  in  high  con- 
dition, is  very  great.  Before  it  can  be  obtained,  the  greater  part 
of  the  bowels  must  be  removed.  To  accomplish  this,  several  men 
eventually  enter  the  immense  cavity  of  his  inside,  where  they 
continue  mining  away  with  their  assagais,  and  handing  the  fat 
to  their  comrades  outside  until  all  is  bare.  While  this  is  tran- 
spiring with  the  sides  and  bowels,  other  parties  are  equally  active 
in  removing  the  skin  and  flesh  from  the  remaining  parts  of  the 
carcase.  The  natives  have  a  horrid  practice  or  these  occasions 
of  besmearing  their  bodies,  from  the  crown  of  the  head  to  the  sole 
of  the  foot,  with  the  black  and  clotted  gore  ;  and  in  this  anointing 
they  assist  one  another,  each  man  taking  up  the  fill  in  both  his 
hands,  and  spreading  it  over  the  back  and  shoulders  of  his  friend. 
Throughout  the  entire  proceeding  an  incessant  and  •  deafening 
clamor  of  many  voices  and  confused  sounds  is  maintained,  and 
violent  jostling  and  wrestling  are  practiced  by  every  man,  elbow- 
ing the  breasts  and  countenances  of  his  fellows,  all  slippery  with 
gore,  as  he  endeavors  to  force  his  \vay  to  the  venison  through  thv 
dense  intervening  ranks,  while  the  sharp  and  ready  assagai 
gleams  in  every  hand.  The  angry  voices  and  gory  appearances 
of  these  naked  savages,  combined  with  their  excited  and  frantic 
gestures  and  glistening  arms,  presented  an  effect  so  wild  and 


BAKING  ELEPHANT'S  FLESH.  343 

sinking,  that  when  I  first  beheld  the  scene  I  contemj  lated  it  in 
the  momentary  expectation  of  beholding  one  half  of  the  gathering 
turn  their  weapons  against  the  other. 

The  trunk  and  feet  are  considered  a  delicacy,  and  a  detachment 
are  employed  on  these.  The  four  feet  are  amputated  at  the  fet- 
lock joint,  and  the  trunk,  which  at  the  base  is  about  two  feet  in 
thickness,  is  cut  into  convenient  lengths.  Trunk  and  feet  are 
then  baked,  preparatory  to  their  removal  to  head-quarters.  The 
manner  in  which  this  is  done  is  as  follows :  A  party,  provided 
with  sharp-pointed  sticks,  dig  a  hole  in  the  ground  for  each  foot 
and  a  portion  of  the  trunk.  These  holes  are  about  two  feet  deep, 
and  a  yard  in  width  ;  the  excavated  earth  is  embanked  around  the 
margin  of  the  hole.  This  work  being  completed,  they. next  col- 
lect an  immense  quantity  of  dry  branches  and  trunks  of  trees,  of 
which  there  is  always  a  profusion  scattered  around,  having  been 
broken  by  the  elephants  in  former  years.  These  they  pile  above 
the  holes  to  the  height  of  eight  or  nine  feet,  and  then  set  fire  to 
the  heap.  When  these  strong  fires  have  burned  down,  and  the 
whole  of  the  wood  is  reduced  to  ashes,  the  holes  and  the  surround- 
ing earth  are  heated  in  a  high  degree.  Ten  or  twelve  men  then 
stand  round  the  pit,  and  rake  out  the  ashes  with  a  pole  about  six- 
teen feet  in  length,  having  a  hook  at  the  end.  They  relieve  one. 
another  in  quick  succession,  each  man  running  in  and  raking  the 
ashes  for  a  few  seconds,  and  then  pitching  the  pole  to  his  comrade 
and  retreating,  since  the  heat  is  so  intense  that  it  is  scarcely  to  be 
endured.  When  all  the  ashes  are  thus  raked  out  beyond  the 
surrounding  bank  of  earth,  each  elephant's  foot  and  portion  of  the 
trunk  is  lifted  by  two  athletic  men,  standing  side  by  side,  who 
place  it  on  their  shoulders,  and,  approaching  the  pit  together, 
they  heave  it  into  it.  The  long  pole  is  now  again  resumed,  and 
with  it  they  shove  in  the  heated  bank  of  earth  upon  the  foot, 
shoving  and  raking  until  it  is  completely  buried  in  the  earth. 
The  hot  embers,  of  which  there  is  always  a  great  supply,  are  then 
raked  into  a  heap  above  the  foot,  and  another  bonfire  is  kindled 
over  each,  which  is  allowed  to  bum  down  and  die  a  natural  death, 
by  which  time  the  enormous  foot  or  trunk  will  be  found  to  be 


,144  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


equally  baked  throughout  its  inmost  parts.  When  the  foot  is 
supposed  to  be  ready,  it  is  taken  out  of  the  ground  with  pointed 
sticks,  and  is  first  well  beaten,  and  then  scraped  with  an  assagai, 
whereby  adhering  particles  of  sand  are  got  rid  of.  The  outside  is 
then  pared  off,  and  it  is  transfixed  with  a  sharp  stake  for  facility 
of  carriage. 

The  feet,  thus  cooked,  are  excellent,  as  is  also  the  trunk,  which 
very  much  resembles  buffalo's  tongue.  The  reason  why  such 
large  fires  are  requisite  is  owing  to  the  mass  of  flesh  that  must  be 
baked.  In  raking  the  sand  on  the  foot,  the  natives  are  careful  not 
to  rake  the  red-hot  embers  in  with  it,  which  would  burn  and  destroy 
the  meat ;  whereas  the  sand  or  earth  protects  it,  imparting  an  even 
and  steady  heat.  When  the  natives  have  cut  up  the  elephant, 
and  removed  the  large  masses  of  flesh,  &c  ,  to  their  respective 
temporary  kraals  around,  they  sit  down  for  a  little  to  rest  and  draw 
their  breath,  and  for  a  short  time  smoking  and  snuffing  are  indulged 
in. 

The  Bechuana  pipe  is  of  a  very  primitive  description,  differing 
from  any  I  had  ever  seen.  When  they  wish  to  srnoke  they 
moisten  a  spot  of  earth,  not  being  particular  whence  they  obtain 
the  water.  Into  this  earth  they  insert  a  green  twig,  bent  into  a 
semicircle,  whose  bend  is  below  the  said  earth,  and  both  ends  pro- 
truding. They  then  knead  the  moist  earth  down  with  their 
knuckles  on  the  twig,  which  they  work  backward  and  forward 
until  a  hole  is  established,  when  the  twig  is  withdrawn,  and  one 
end  of  the  aperture  is  enlarged  with  the  fingers,  so  as  to  form  a 
bowl  to  contain  the  tobacco.  The  pipe  is  thus  finished  and  ready 
for  immediate  use,  when  tobacco  and  fire  are  introduced,  and  the 
smoker  drops  on  his  knees,  and,  resting  on  the  palms  of  his  hands, 
he  brings  his  lips  in  contact  with  the  mud  at  the  small  ertd  of  the 
hole,  and  thus  inhales  the  grateful  fumes.  Large  volumes  of 
smoke  are  emitted  through  the  nostrils,  while  a  copious  flow  of 
tears  from  the  eyes  of  the  smoker  evinces  the  pleasure  he  enjoys. 
One  of  these  pipes  will  serve  a  large  party,  who  replenish  the 
bowl  and  relieve  one  another  in  succession. 

The  natives,  having  drawn  their  breath,  once  more  do  vote  then 


RESULTS   OF  THE   HUNT.  845 


Attention  to  the  flesh,  which  they  next  reduce  to  liltongue,  cutting 
every  morsel  into  thin  strips  from  six  to  twenty  feet  in  length. 
These  strips  are  of  the  breadth  and  thickness  of  a  man's  two 
fingers.  When  all  is  reduced  to  biltongue,  they  sally  forth  with 
their  tomahawks,  and  cut  down  a  number  of  poles  of  two  sorts,  foi 
uprights  and  cross-poles.  The  uprights  are  eight  feet  long,  and 
forked  at  one  end.  They  place  them  upright  in  the  ground 
around  their  respective  trees,  laying  the  cross-poles  resting  on  the 
forks,  and  these  are  adorned  with  endless  garlands  of  the  raw 
meat,  which  is  permitted  to  hang  in  the  sun  for  two  or  three  days, 
when  it  will  have  lost  much  of  its  weight,  and  be  stiff  and  easy  to 
be  carried.  They  then  remove  the  biltongue  from  the  poles,  and, 
folding  it  together,  they  form  it  into  bundles,  which  are  strongly 
lashed  and  secured  with  long  strips  of  the  tough  inner  bark  of 
thorny  mimosas.  Their  wcrk  in  the  forest  is  now  completed,  and, 
each  man  placing  one  bundle  on  his  head,  and  slinging  several 
others  across  his  shoulders,  returns  to  his  wife  and  family  at  head- 
quarters. 

The  appearance  which  the  flesh  of  a  single  elephant  exhibits 
when  reduced  to  strips  and  suspended  from  the  poles  is  truly  sur- 
prising, the  forest  far  around  displaying  a  succession  of  ruby 
festoons,  and  reminding  one  of  a  vineyard  laden  with  its  clustering 
fruits.  When  the  skull  of  my  elephant  was  ready  for  the  axe 
Mutchuisho  caused  a  party  to  hew  out  for  me  the  tusks — a  work 
of  great  labor,  and  needing  considerable  skill.  In  the  present 
instance  the  work  was  clumsily  executed,  the  native  hacking  arid 
injuring  the  ivory  in  removing  the  bone  with  their  little  toma- 
hawks. In  consequence  of  this,  I  invariably  afterward  performed 
the  task  myself,  using  superior  American  hatchets,  which  I  had 
provided  expressly  for  the  purpose.  When  the  tusks  had  been 
extracted,  I  saddled  up  and  started  for  the  camp,  accompanied  by 
my  after-riders  and  a  party  of  the  natives  bearing  the  ivory,  with 
a  supply  of  baked  foot  and  trunk  and  a  portion  of  the  flesh.  The 
natives  had  appropriated  all  the  rest.  On  our  way  to  camp  we 
passed  through  the  kraal  of  the  Bakalahari.  In  the  valleys  they 
had  Irrge  gardens,  in  which  corn  and  water-melons  wer<?  g-ou-n 


HUNTING 


CHAPTER  LVL 

HUNTING  THE  WILD  HOUSE  AND  THE  WILD  ASS. 

E  wild  ass,  the  Onager  of  Oppian,  Pliny,  Ray,  &c 
and  the  Koulan  of  Mr.  Pennent,  varies  from  thj 
tame  in  several  respects.  The  forehead  is  much 
arched  :  the  ears  are  long  and  erect,  even  when  the 
animal  is  out  of  order ;  sharp  pointed  and  lined 
with  whitish  curling  hairs ;  the  irides  are  of  a  livid  brown  ;  the 
lips  thick ;  and  the  end  of  the  nose  sloping  steeply  down  to  the 
upper  lip  :  and  the  nostrils  are  Jorge  «nd  oval.  It  is  much  higher 
on  its  limbs  than  the  tame  ass,  and  its  legs  are  much  finer,  hut  it 
again  resembles  it  in  the  narrowness  of  its  chest  and  body :  it 
carries  its  head  much  higher ;  and  its  skull  is  of  a  surprising  thin- 
ness. The  mane  is  dusky,  about  three  or  four  inches  long,  com- 
posed of  soft  woolly  hair,  and  extends  quite  to  the  shoulders  :  the 
hairs  at  the  end  of  the  tail  are  coarse,  and  about  a  span  long.  The 
color  of  the  hair  in  general  is  silvery  white  ;  the  upper  part  of 


HUNTING    THE   WILD   ASS.  347 


the  face,  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  body,  are  of  a  flaxen  color;  the- 
hind  parts  of  the  thighs  are  the  same ;  the  fore  part  divided  from 
the  flank  by  a  white  line,  which  extends  round  the  rump  tp  the 
tail :  the  belly  and  legs  are  also  white  :  along  the  very  top  of  the 
back,  from  the  mane  quite  to  the  tail,  runs  a  stripe  of  bushy 
waved  hairs  of  a  coffee  color,  broadest  above  the  hind  part,  grow- 
ing narrower  again  towards  the  tail ;  another  of  the  same  color 
crosses  it  at  the"shoulders  (of  the  males  only),  forming  a  mark, 
such  as  distinguishes  the  tame  asses  ;  the  dorsal  band  and  the 
mane  are  bounded  on  each  side  by  a  beautiful  line  of  white, 
well  described  by  Oppian,  who  gives  an  admirable  account  of  the 
whole.  Its  winter  coat  is  very  fine,  soft,  and  silky,  much  undu- 
lated, and  likest  to  the  hair  of  the  camel ;  greasy  to  the  touch ;  and 
the  flaxen  color,  during  that  season,  more  exquisitely  bright.  Its 
summer  coat  is  very  smooth,  silky,  and  even,  with  exception  of 
certain  shaded  rays  that  mark  the  sides  of  the  neck,  pointing 
downwards.  These  animals  inhabit  the  dry  and  mountainous 
parts  of  the  deserts  of  Great  Tartary,  but  not  higher  than  lat.  48° 
They  are  migratory,  and  arrive  in  vast  troops  to  feed,  during  the 
summer,  in  the  tracts  E.  and  N.  of  lake  Aral.  About  autumn  they 
collect  in  hundreds,  and  direct  their  course  towards  the  north  of 
India,  to  enjoy  a  warm  retreat  during  winter.  But  Persia  is  their 
most  usual  place  of  retirement ;  where  they  are  found  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Casbin,  some  even  at  all  times  of  the  year.  Barboga  says, 
they  penetrate  even  into  the  southern  parts  of  India,  to  the  mountains 
of  Malbar  and  Golconda.  According  to  Leo  Africanus,  wild  asses 
of  an  ash  color  are  found  in  the  north  deserts  of  Africa.  The  Arabs 
lake  them  in  snares  for  the  sake  of  their  flesh.  If  fresh  killed,  it 
is  hot  and  unsavory  ;  if  kept  two  days  after  it  is  boiled,  it  becomes 
ixcellent  meat.  These  people,  the  Tartars  and  Romans,  agreed 
m  their  preference  of  this  to  any  other  food  ;  the  latter  indeed  chose 
them  young,  at  a  period  of  life  in  which  it  was  called  Lolisio. 
(See  MARTIAL,  xiii.  97.)  The  epicures  of  Rome  preferred  those 
of  Africa  to  all  others.  The  grown  onagri  were  introduced  among 
the  spectacles  of  the  theatre  ;  and  their  combats  were  preferred  even 
to  those  of  the  elephants.  The  manners  of  the  wild  ass  are  very 


818  nifN'rrxo   ADVKMTTKES. 


much  the  same  with  those  of  the  wild  horse  and  the  dshikkctei. 
They  assemble  in  troops  under  the  conduct  of  a  leader;  and  are 
very  shy.  They  will,  however,  stop  in  the  midst  of  their  course, 
and  even  suffer  the  approach  of  a  man  at  thai  instant,  but  will  then 
dart  away  with  the  rapidity  of  an  arrow  from  the  bow.  This 
Herodotus  mentions,  in  his  account  of  those  of  Mesopotamia  ;  and 
Leo  Africanus,  in  that  of  the  African.  Their  wildriess  is  beauti- 
fully described  in  scripture  :  See  Job  xxxix.  5 — 5.  Yet  they  can 
be  tamed.  The  Persians  catch  and  break  them  for  the  draught  ; 
they  make  pits,  half  filled  with  plants  to  lessen  the  fall,  and  take 
them  alive.  They  break,  and  hold  them  in  great  esteem,  and  sell 
them  at  a  high  price.  The  famous  breed  of  asses  in  the.  east  is 
produced  from  the  koulan  reclaimed  from  the  snvag-e  state,  which 
highly  improves  the  breed.  The  Romans  reckoned  the  breed  of 
asses  produced  from  the  onnger  and  tame  ass  to  excell  a!l  others. 
The  Tartars,  who  kill  them  for  the  sake  of  the  flesh  and  skins, 
lie  in  ambush  and  shoot  them.  They  have  been  at  all  times  cele- 
brated for  their  amazing  swiftness  ;  for  which  reason  the  Hebreans 
called  them  Frre  ;  as  they  styled  them  Jlrod  from  their  braying. 
Their  food  is  the  saltest  plants  of  the  deserts,  such  as  the  kalis, 
altriplex,  chenopodium,  and  bitter  milky  tribe  of  herbs,  &c. :  they 
also  prefer  salt  water  to  fresh.  This  is  exactly  conformable  to  thf 
history  given  of  this  animal  in  the  book  of  Job;  for  the  words 
"  barren  land,"  expressive  of  its  dwelling,  ought,  according  to  the 
learned  Bochart,  to  be  rendered  "salt  places.''  The  hunters  lie 
in  wait  for  them  near  the  ponds  of  brackish  water,  to  which  they 
resort  to  drink  ;  but  they  seldom  have  recourse  to  water.  Thest 
animals  were  anciently  found  in  the  Holy  Land,  Syria,  the  hn:l 
of  Uz  or  Arabia  Deserta,  Mesopotamia,  Phrygia,  and  Lyroojiia, 
But  at  present  they  are  entirely  confined  to  the  countries  above 
mentioned.  Shagreen  is  made  of  the  skin  of  these  animals.  The 
Persians  use  the  bile  of  the  wild  ass  as  a  remedy  agahi?f  dimness 
of  sight. 


HUNTING  THE  WILD  HORSE. 


349 


HUNTING  THE   WILD  HORSE. 

The  Horse  in  a  domestic  state  is  a  bold  and  fiery  animal ; 
equally  intrepid  as  his  master,  he  faces  danger  and  death  with 
ardor  and  magnanimity.  He  delights  in  the  noise  and  tumult 
of  arms,  and  seems  to  feel  the  glory  of  victory  :  he  exults  in 
the  chase ;  his  eyes  sparkle  with  emulation  in  the  course,  f'ut 
though  bold  and  intrepid,  he  is  docile  and  tractable ;  he  knows 
how  to  govern  and  check  the  natural  vivacity  and  fire  of  his  temper. 
He  not  only  yields  to  the  hand,  but  seems  to  consult  the  inclination 
of  his  rider.  Constantly  obedient  to  the  impressions  he  receives, 
his  motions  are  entirely  regulated  by  the  will  of  his  master.  lit 
in  some  measure  resigns  his  very  existence  to  the  pleasure  of  num. 
He  delivers  up  his  whole  powers;  he -reserves  nothing ;  hi  will 
rather  die  than  disobey.  Who  could  endure  to  see  a  character  so 
noble  abused  !  who  could  be  guilty  of  such  gross  barbarity  !  This 
character,  though  natural  to  the  animal,  is  in  some  measure  the 
effect  of  education.  His  education  commences  with  the  loss  of 
liberty,  and  is  finished  by  constraint.  The  slavery  of  the  horse  is 
so  ancient  and  so  universal,  that  he  is  but  rarely  seen  in  the 
natural  state.  Several  ancient  writers  talk  of  wild  horses,  unf) 


850  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


even  mention  the  places  where  they  are  to  he  found.  Herodotus 
takes  notice  of  white  savage  horses  in  Scythia ;  Aristotle  says 
they  were  to  be  found  in  Syria  ;  Pliny,  in  the  northern  regions  ; 
and  Strabo,  in  Spain  and  the  Alps.  Among  the  moderns,  Cardan 
says,  that  wild  horses  are  to  be  found  in  the  tlighlancls  of  Scotland 
and  the  Orkney  Isles  ;  Olaus,  in  Muscovy  ;  Dapper,  in  the  island 
of  Cyprus  ;  Leo  and  Marmol,  in  Arabia  and  Africa,  &c.  But  as 
Europe  is  almost  all  inhabited,  wild  horses  are  not  to  be  met  with 
in  any  part  of  it ;  and  those  of  America  were  originally  transported 
from  Europe  by  the  Spaniards  ;  for  this  species  of  animal  did  not 
exist  in  the  new  world.  The  Spaniards  carried  over  a  great 
number  of  horses,  left  them  in  different  islands,  &c.  with  a  view 
to  propagate  that  useful  animal  in  their  colonies.  These  have 
multiplied  incredibly  in  the  vast  deserts  of  those  thinly  peopled 
countries,  where  they  roam  at  large  without  any  restraint.  M. 
de  Salle  relates,  that  he  saw  in  the  year  1635,  horses  feeding  in 
the  meadows  of  North  America  near  the  bay  of  St.  Louis,  which 
were  so  ferocious  that  nobody  durst  come  near  them.  Oexmelin 
says,  that  he  has  seen  large  troops  of  them  in  St.  Domingo  run- 
ning in  the  valleys  ;  that  when  any  person  approached  they  all 
stopped  ;  and  one  of  them  would  advance  till  within  a  certain  dis- 
tance, then  snort  and  take  to  his  heels,  and  the  whole  troop  after  him. 
These  relations  sufficiently  prove,  that  the  horse,  when  at  ful. 
liberty,  though  not  a  fierce  or  dangerous  animal,  has  no  inclination 
to  associate  with  mankind  ;  that  all  the  softness  and  ductility  of  his 
temper  proceeds  entirely  from  the  culture  and  polish  he  receives 
in  his  domestic  education,  which  in  some  measure  commences  as 
soon  as  he  is  brought  forth. 

The  wild  horse  is  hunted  in  North  and  South  America  and 
taken  for  the  purpose  of  being  domesticated ;  and  this,  notwith- 
standing his  natural  wildness,  is  easily  accomplished.  The  favo- 
rite mode  of  hunting  him  is  with  the  lasso,  which  is  a  long  leather 
or  raw-hide  thong  with  a  noose  at  the  end.  This  the  mounted 
hunter  swings  round  his  head  and  then  throws  over  the  head  01 
round  the  legs  of  the  horse.  The  inhabitants  of  Buenos  Ayrea 
and  Mexico  are  particularly  expert  at  this  exercise. 


HUNTING    THE    NYL    GHAU. 


351 


CHAPTER  LVII. 

THE  NYL.  GHAU,  THE  OCELOT,  AND  THE  LYNX. 


YL  GHAU,  or  Blue  Ox,  is  a  kind  of 
antelope,  found  in  India.  In  the  wild 
state,  these  animals  are  said  to  be  fero- 
cious, but  they  may  be  domesticated, 
and  in  that  condition  give  frequent 
tokens  of  familiarity,  anc  even  of  grati- 
tude, to  those  under  whose  care  they 
are  placed.  The  female,  or  doe,  is 
much  smaller  than  the  male,  and  is  of  a  yellowish  color,  by  which 
she  js  easily  distinguished  from  the  buck,  who  is  of  a  grey  tint. 

Its  manner  of  fighting  is  very  particular,  and  is  thus  described  : 
Two  of  the  males  at  Lord  Olive's  being  put  into  an  enclosure, 
were  observed,  while  they  \yere  at  some  distance  from  each  other, 
to  prepare  for  the  attack,  by  falling  down  upon  their  knees  ;  they 
then  shuffled  towards  each  other,  still  keeping  upon  their  knees  ; 
and,  at  the  distance  of  a  few  yards,  they  made  a  spring,  and 
t'arted  against  each  other  with  great  force. 


352 


ADVENTURES. 


THE   NYL   GHA0. 


The  following  anecdote  will  serve  to  snow  that  these  animals 
are  sometimes  fierce  and  vicious,  and  not  to  be  depended  upon  : — 
A  laboring  man,  without  knowing  that  the  animal  was  near  him, 
went  up  to. the  outside  of  the  inclosure  ;  the  Nyl  Ghau,  with  the 
quickness  of  lightning,  darted  against  the  woodwork  with  such 
violence,  that  he  dashed  it  to  pieces,  and  broke  one  of  his  horns 
close  to  the  root.  The  death  of  the  animal,  soon  after,  was  sup- 
posed to  be  owing  to  the  injury  he  sustained  by  the  blow. 

The  Nyl  Ghau  is  hunted  by  the  natives  of  Persia  and  Elm- 
doostan  with  spears,  guns,  bows  and  arrows,  and  hounds.  When 
meditating  an  attack  it  falls  on  its  fore  knees,  as  represented  in  the 
cut  at  the  head  of  this  chapter,  and  shuffles  forward  to  within  a 
short  distance  of  its  object,  when  it  darts  forward  with  a  powertu, 
spring,  and  butts  in  the  most  determined  manner.  A  horse  and 


-- 


THE   MEXICAN   TIGER. 


355 


THE   OCELOT. 

ts  rider  have  been  laid  prostrate  by  its  onset.  The  peculiar  con- 
formation of  its  head,  neck  and  shoulders  render  an  attack  of  this 
kind  very  formidable. 

The  Mexican  Tiger,  or  Ocelot,  is  extensively  spread  over  the 
South  American  Continent.  Its  body,  when  grown,  is  nearly 
three  feet  in  length,  and  its  tail  more  than  one ;  its  medium  height 
is  about  eighteen  inches  ;  the  ground  color  of  its  fur  is  gray, 
mingled  with  a  slight  tinge  of  reddish-yellow,  darker  on  the  back, 
elegantly  marked  with  longitudinal  bands,  consisting  for  the  most 
part  of  a  series  of  elongated  spots,  faun  in  the  centre,  with  black 
margins ;  its  under  parts  are  white :  but  the  colors  vary  in  dif- 
ferent specimens  It  climbs  trees  expertly  in  search  of  its  prey, 
which  consists  of  birds  and  small  animals.  It  is  nevertheless 
exceedingly  powerful,  but  is  easily  tamed,  and  when  domesti- 
cated, becomes  mild,  gentle,  and  playful. 

The  Ocelot  is  hunted  by  the  natives  of  Mexico  and  South 
America  with  muskets  and  with  poisoned  arrows.  Its  skin  is 
greatly  valued. 

The  Lynx  abounds  in  the  s  <uthern  parts  of  Europe,  and  north- 


HUNTING    Al>VENTTJRR8. 


THE    LYNX. 

ern  of  Asia  and  America;  has  bright  eyes,  a  mild  aspect,  and 
upon  the  whole  a  lively  and  agreeable  appearance.  He  is  about 
the  size  of  the  unce.  His  ears  are  erect,  with  tufts  of  black  hair 
at  the  tips ;  his  tail  is  short,  and  also  tipped  black ;  his  fur  is 
extremely  valuable,  of  a  pale  grey  color,  sometimes  with  a  reddish 
tinge,  obscurely  marked  with  small,  dusky  spots  on  the  upper 
parts  of  the  body  ;  the  under  parts  are  white.  He  advance's  by 
leaping  and .  bounding,  and  will  scale  the  loftiest  trees,  so  that 
neither  *>he  wild  cat  nor  squirrel  are  more  secure  than  the  sta:;  or 
the  hare.  He  always  fixes  on  the  throat  of  the  animal,  and  when 
he  has  sucked  the  blood,  leaves  the  carcase;  thus  ivvrling  in 
destruction,  and  doing  immense  mischief  among  the  weaker  and 
moro,  harmless  inhabitants  of  the  forest.  He  is  extremely  difficult 
if  not  impossible  to  tame.  The  Caracal,  or  lynx  of  the  ancients, 
is  common  in  Barbary,  Arabia,  and  Southern  Asia.  lie  is  nearly 
three  feet  in  length,  including  a  tail  of  about  ten  inches ;  in  height 
is  about  fourteen  inches:  his  ears  are  black  and  tutted;  the  fur  on 
the  upper  part  of  the  body  is  of  a  reddish-brown,  the  under  part 
and  iuside  of  the  legs  white.  He  follows  (it  is  said)  the  lion,  and 
feeds  on  the  left  fragments  of  his  spoil ;  but  his  common  faro  is 
small  animals  and  birds.  The  kindest  usage  cannot  always  over- 
come his  native  fierceness,  but  like  the  former,  he  will  sometimes 
even  turn  upon  the  hand  that  feeds  him. 


flliNTING    TUB    COUGAR. 


CHAPTER  LVIII. 

HUNTING   THE   COUGAR. — HUNTING  SQUIRRELS. 

O  OTHER  animal  of  the  cat  kind 
is  so  formidable  a-s  the  Cougar.  Il 
is  found  in  North  America. 

The  Coug-ar  is  sometimes  im- 
properly called  Panther.  It  \a 
the  largest  animal  of  the  cat  kind 
found  in  North  America,  and  has 
occasionally  received  the  name  of 
American  lien,  from  the  similarity 
of  its  proportion  and  color  to  the 
iion  of  the  old  world.  The  cougar  may  be  stated  to  be  about  one- 
third  less  in  size  than  the  lien,  and  has  no  mane  nor  tuft  at  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  tail,  which  is  about  half  the  length  of  the  body  and 
head.  The  skin  of  this  animal  is  clothed  with  a  soft  and  close 
hair  over  the  limbs  and  body,  of  a  brownish  yellow  color,  or  a 
mixture  of  red  and -blackish,  with  occasional  patches  of  a  rather 
deep  reddish  tint,  which  are  only  icmarkable  in  certain  lights,  and 
disappear  entirely  with  the  age  of  the  individual.  A  dark  red  i* 


358  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


spread  over  the  upper  parts,  produced  by  the  tips  of  the  k  t, 
which  is  black  at  the  base.  The  head  has  a  great  many  g>  -ty 
hairs  upon  it ;  the  whiskers  are  white,  and  rise  in  a  blackish  spa<*e. 

At  an  early  period  the  cougar  was  distributed  in  considerable  num- 
bers over  the  whole  of  the  warm  and  temperate  regions  of  this  conti- 
nent, and  is  still  found,  though  not  abundantly,  in  the  southern, 
middle,  and  northwestern  parts  of  the  Union.  It  is  a  savage  and 
destructive  animal,  yet  timid  atA  cautious.  It  climbs,  or  rather, 
springs  up  large  trees  with  surprising  facility,  and  in  that  way 
is  enabled,  by  dropping  suddenly  upon  deer  and  other  quadru- 
peds, to  secure  prey  which  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  fo 
overtake.  The  cougar  is  seldom  seen  in  day-time,  but  its  peculiai 
cry  thrills  the  traveller  with  horror,  during  the  night.  As  an  in- 
stance of  the  manner  in  which  the  cougar  is  pursued,  and  his 
behavior  when  attacked,  we  quote  the  following  from  a  late  num- 
ber of  the  Potsdam  (N.  Y.)  Mercury  :- 

11  PANTHER  SHOT. — The  well  known  hunter,  Mr.  Charles  Parme- 
ter,  of  this  town,  who  has  been  out  in  the  woods  the  last  two  months 
deer-hunting,  killed  a  few  days  since  in  the  town  of  Belmont,  in 
Franklin  County,  a  large  panther  or  catamount,  measuring  nine 
feet  in  extreme  length,  and  weighing  247  pounds.  Mr.  Parmeter 
came  upon  the  track  while  hunting,  and  the  next  day,  with  a  dog 
started  with  the  determination  to  hunt  him  up.  After  a  short  dis- 
tance he  struck  the  trail  and  soon  came  up  to  where,  with  a  single 
bound,  the  panther  had  killed  and  split  entirely  open  a  huge  buck, 
apparently  carried  the  same  about  twenty  rods,  and  partly  buried  the 
carcase. 

"  Following  on  in  pursuit,  Mr.  P.  soon  came  to  a  mountain  ridge 
with  huge  shelving  rocks,  in  a  chasm  under  one  of  which  he  found 
the  panther's  den.  His  dog,  with  hair  erect  and  exhibiting  ex- 
treme fear,  refused  to  enter,  when  Mr.  P.,  tying  a  rope  around  the 
dog's  neck,  entered  himself,  dragging  his  dog  after  him.  The 
panther  fled  by  another  entrance  and  took  to  a  very  tall  spruce  tree 
near  by.  Mr.  P.  now  climbed  the  ledge  of  rocks  overhead  and  thus 
found  himself  on  a  level  with  the  tree  top,  and  distant  about  fifty 
feet  from  the  same.  The  panther  was  almost  hid  in  the  dense 


HUNTING   THE   COMMON   GRAY   SQUIRREL.  359 

top,  but  catching  a  glimpse  of  h  in,  he  fired  in  quick  succession 
two  balls  into  his  body. 

"  The  panther  had  now  placed  himself  with  eye  fixed  on  Mr.  P., 
in  the  attitude  of  springing,  when  Mr.  P.  having  quickly  reloaded 
both  barrels  of  his  gun,  fired  one  into  the  back  of  his  neck,  and 
the  other  through  his  body  :  the  fourth  shot  brought  him  to  the 
ground.  The  dog  having  now  regained  courage,  rushed  in  upon 
him,  but  one  bite  of  the  dying  panther  sent  him  back  howling 
with  pain,  when  springing  to  his  feet  the  ferocious  animal  ran 
jome  twenty  rods  and  fell  dead.  Mr.  P..  intends  to  bring  him 
down  in  a  few  days  and  give  our  citizens  a  chance  to  see  this 
rarely  found  animal,  whose  strength,  agility,  ferocity,  and  tenacity 
of  life  render  him  monarch  of  the  forest,  and  the  dreaded  foe  of 
the  most  intrepid  hunter." 

.The  Common  Gray  Squirrel,  is  exceedingly  common  in  the 
United  States,  and  was  once  so  excessively  multiplied  as  to  be  a 
scourge  to  the  inhabitants,  not  only  consuming  their  grain  but  ex- 
hausting the  public  treasury  by  the  amount  of  premiums  given  for 
their  destruction. 

The  gray  squirrel  prefers  the  oak,  hickory  and  chestnut  woods, 
where  it  finds  a  copious  supply  of  nuts  and  mast,  of  which  it  pro- 
vides large  hordes  for  the  winter.  Their  nests  are  placed  chiefly 
in  tall  oak-trees,  at  the  forks  of  the  branches  ;  these  nests  are  very 
comfortable,  being  thickly  covered  and  lined  with  dried  leaves. 
During  cold  weather  the  squirrels  seldom  leave  these  snug  retreats, 
except  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  their  store  houses,  and  obtaining 
a  supply  of  provisions.  It  has  been  observed  that,  the  approach 
of  uncommonly  cold  weather  is  foretold  when  these  squirrels  are 
seen  out  in  unusual  numbers,  gathering  a  larger  stock  of  provi- 
sions, lest  their  magazines  should  fail.  This,  however,  is  not  an 
infallible  sign,  at  least  in  vicinities  where  many  hogs  are  allowed 
to  roam  at  large,  as  these  keen-nosed  brutes  are  very  expert  al 
discovering  the  winter  hoards  of  the  squirrel,  which  they  immedi- 
ately appropriate  to  their  own  use. 

If  the  gray  squirrels  confined  themselves  to  the  diet  afforded  by 
the  forest  trees,  the  farmers  would  profit  considerably  thereby 


86U 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


But,  having  once  tasted  the  "sweetness  of  Indian  corn  and  othei 
cultivated  grains,  they  leave  acorns  and  such  coarse,  fare  to  the 
nogs,  while  they  invade  the  corn-fields,  and  carry  off  and  destroy 
»  very  large  quantity.  This  species  is  remarkable  among  all  our 
squirrels  for  its  beauty  and  activity.  It  is  in  captivity  remarkably 
phiyful  and  mischievous,  and  is  more  frequently  kept  as  a  pet 
than  any  other.  It  becomes  very  tame,  and  may  be  allowed  to 
spend  a  great  deal  of  time  entirely  at  liberty,  where  there  is 
•nothing  exposed  that  can  be  injured'  by  its  teeth,  which  it  is  sure 
to  try  upon  every  article  of  furniture,  &c.  in  its  vicinity.  This 


HUNTING   THE   GROUND    i-QUIRREL. 


361 


THE   BLACK  SQUIRREL. 

•qunrel,  when  domesticated,  drinks  frequently,  and  a  considerable 
quar  tity  of  water  at  each  draught. 

The  Gray  Squirrel  varies  considerably  in  color,  but  is  most  com 
monly  of  a  fine  blueish  gray,  mingled  with  a  slight  golden  hue. 
This  golden  color  is  especially  obvious  on  the  head,  along  the 
sides,  where  the  white  hair  of  the  belly  approaches  the  gray  of 
the  sides,  and  on  the  anterior  part  of  the  fore  and  superior  part  of 
the  hind  feet,  where  it  is  very  rich  and  deep.  This  mark  on  the 
hind  feet  is  very  permanent,  and  evident  even  in  those  varieties 
which  differ  most  from  the  common  color.  There  is  one  specimen 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


in  the  Philadelphia  Museum  of  a  light  brownish  red  on  all  the 
superior  parts  of  the  body. 

The  gray  squirrel  is  favorite  game  of  American  sportsmen.  Durino 
the  cold  weather,  they  are  caught  in  traps,  or  shot,  in  great  num- 
bers. Their  flesh  is  remarkably  tender  and  delicate.  The 
method  sometimes  used  for  snaring  them  is  curious,  though  very 
simple,  as  it  consists  of  nothing  more  than  setting  a  number  of 
snares  all  around  the  body  of  the  tree  in  whkh  they  are  seen,  and 
arranging  them  in  such  a  manner  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  for 
the  squirrel  to  descend  without  being  entangled  in  one  of  them. 

The  Black  Squirrel  is  very  common,  but  is  liable  to  be  con- 
founded with  the  other  varieties  of  the  squirrel.  It  very  Seldom 
varies.  In  the  summer,  the  pelage  is  rather  gray  on  the  back  and 
sides,  though  the  whole  color  of  the  body  is  a  black  intermingled 
with  a  small  quantity  of  gray,  and  of  a  dark  reddish  brown  on  the 
under  parts.  In  the  winter  the  color  is  a  pure  black,  varying 
slightly  in  intensity  on  any  part  of  the  body.  The  same  means 
are  used  by  sportsmen  in  trapping  the  black  squirrel  as  in  tho 
capture  of  the  common  gray  species.  They  are  good  eating  but 
do  not- possess  the  playful  spirit  of  some  of  the  other  varieties. 

The  Ground  Squirrel  is  frequently  called  the  Hackee,  or  Striped 
Squirrel. 

This  squirrel  is  most  generally  seen  scudding  along  the  lower 
rails  of  the  common  zigzag  or  "  Virginia"  fences,  which  afford 
him  at  once  a  pleasant  and  secure  path,  as  in  a  few  turns  he  finds 
a  safe  hiding  place  behind  the  projecting  angles,  or  enters  his 
burrow  undiscovered.  When  no  fence  is  near,  or  his  retreat  is 
cut  off,  after  having  been  out  in  search  of  food,  he  becomes  ex- 
ceedingly alarmed,  and  runs  up  the  nearest  tree,  uttering  a  vejy 
shrill  cry  or  whistle,  indicative  of  his  distress,  and  it  is  in  this 
situation  that  he  is  most  frequently  made  captive  by  his  persecut- 
ing enemies,  the  mischievous  school-boys. 

The  ground  squirrel  makes  his  burrow  generally  near  the  roots 
of  trees,  along  the  course  of  fences  and  old  walls,  or  in  banks  ad- 
jacent to  forests,  whence  he  obtains  his  principal  supplies  of  food 
The  burrows  frequently  extend  to  very  considerable  distances, 


HUNTING   TUE    GRAY   AND    CLACK    SQUIKKEL.  363 


THE   GROUND   SQUIRREL. 

having  several  galleries  or  lateral  excavations,  in  which  provi 
sions,  are  stored  for  winter  use.  The  burrow  has  always  twc 
openings,  which  are  usually  far  distant  from  each  other ;  it  very 
rarely  happens  that  the  animal  is  dug  out,  unless  it  be  accidentally 
during  the  winter  season. 

The  ground  squirrel  appears  to  suffer  more  when  made  captive 
than  any  other  squirrel  with  which  we  are  acquainted.  We  have 
several  times  endeavored  to  tame  individuals  of  this  species,  bu( 
without  success.  In  losing  its  liberty,  the  ground  squirrel  appears 
to  lose  all  vivacity,  becomes  a  dull  and  melancholy  animal,  and 


364  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


can  yield  very  little  amusement  or  satisfaction  to  its  keeper,  whom 
it  always  flies,  or  bites  severely  if  not  permitted  to  get  out  of  hia 
reach. 

The  ground  squirrel  is  rather  more  than  five  inches  in  length 
from  the  nose  to  the  root  of  the  tail ;  the  last  is  about  two  inchea 
and  a  half  long.  The  general  color  of  the  head  and  upper  parts 
of  the  body  is  reddish  brown,  all  the  hairs  an  these  parts  being 
gray  at  the  base.  The  eyelids  are  whitish,  and  frorr.  the  external 
angle  of  each  eye  a  black  line  runs  towards  the  ear.  while  on  each 
cheek  there  is  a  reddish  brown  line.  The  short  rounded  ears  are 
covered  with  fine  hairs,  which  are  on  the  outside  of  a  reddish 
brown  color,  and  within  of  a  whn;sh  gray.  The  upper  part  of 
the  neck,  shoulders,  and  base  of  the  hair  on  the  back,  are  of  a  gray 
brown,  mingled  with  whitish. 

On  the  back  there  are  five  longitudinal  black  hands,  which  are 
at  their  posterior  parts  bordered  slightly  with  red.  The  middle 
one  begins  at  the  back  of  the  head,  the  two  lateral  ones  on  the 
shoulders ;  they  all  terminate  at  the  rump,  whose  color  is  reddish 
On  each  side  two  white  separate  the  lateral  black  bands.  The 
lower  part  of  the  flanks  and  sides  of  the  neck  are  of  a  paler  red , 
the  exterior  of  the  fore  feet  is  of  a  grayish  yellow  ;  the  thighs  and 
hind /eet  are  red  above.  The  upper  lip,  the  chin,  throat,  belly, 
and  internal  face  of  the  limbs,  are  of  a  dirty  brown.  The  tail  is 
redtlish.  at  its  base,  blackish  below,  and  has  an  edging  of  black. 

The  sportsman  regards  the  ground  squirrel  as  good  but  not 
extra  game.  The  flesh  is  very  good  for  the  table;  but  is  inferior 
to  that  of  the  more  lively  gray  squirrel.  They  are  occasionally  shot 
at,  but  more  frequently  snared  while  they  are  collecting  their  food 
for  winter  use. 

The  Flying  Squirrel  is  very  common  throughout  the  United 
States.  Nature  has  endowed  them  with  instruments  to  facilitate 
their  passage  from  place  to  place  in  the  easiest  and  most  pleasant 
manner.  Capable  of  moving  on  the  bodies  and  limbs  of  trees,  like 
other  squirrels,  it  does  not  require  an  equal  degree  of  muscular 
strength  to.leap  from  tree  to  tree,  or  from  great  elevations  to  the 
ground,  but  launching  itself  from  a  lofty  bough  into  the  air,  and 


HUNTING    THE   FLYING    SQUIRREL.  3G£ 

extending  its  limbs  and  the  intervening  membranes,  its  body  is 
buoyed  up,  and  sails  swiftly  and  obliquely  downwards,  passing 
over  considerable  space.  To  aid  in  this  sailing  movement,  we 
find  the  whole  body  covered  with  a  short  and  silky  fur,  lying 
close  -to  the  skin.  The  tail  is  flattened,  and  serves  as  a  rudder. 

During  the  day-light  the  flying  squirrel  is  rarely  to  be  met 
with  abroad,  unless  it  has  been  disturbed.  Occasionally  large 
troops  are  seen  together,  and  their  sailing  leaps  have  been  said 
to  present  to  the  inexperienced  the  appearance  of  a  large  number 
of  leaves  blown  off  the  trees.  Their  peculiar  construction  ana 
habit  render  them  very  unfit  for  living  on  the  ground,  and  they 
speedily  regain  the  nearest  tree,  when  at  any  time  they  fall  short 
of  the  object  towards  which  they  may  have  leaped.  They  always 
take  advantage  of  the  wind,  when  about  to  leap  to  any  distance, 
and  then  they  appear  to  deserve  the  name  of  flying  squirrels, 
from  the  ease  and  velocity  of  their  movements. 

Individuals  are  frequently  tamed  as  pets,  but  are  more  admired 
on  account  of  the  softness  of  their  fur,  and  the  gentleness  of  their 
dispositions,  than  for  any  of  the  frolicsome  and  amusing  actions 
that  characterize  other  squirrels.  When  confined  in  a  cage  with 
a  reel  appended,  they  continue  running  almost  uninterruptedly 
throughout  the  night. 

The  flying  squirrel  makes  its  nest  in  hollow  trees,  where  it 
brings  forth  three  or  four  young  at  a  litter.  It  is  very  easy  to 
ascertain  whether  this  squirrel  has  a  nest  in  any  hollow  tree,  by 
knocking  against  the  trunk  with  a  stone  or  stick ;  as  soon  as  the 
jarring  is  felt,  the  animal  comes  to  the  opening  and  endeavors  to 
escape.  In  this  way  the  young  are  very  commonly  discovered 
and  taken. 

The  flying  squirrel  is  quite  small,  being  little  more  than  foar 
inches  and  a  half  long,  the  tail  being  three  inches  and  a  half  in 
length. 

The  general  color  is  a  brownish  ash,  with  rounded,  nearly 
naked  ears,  and  large  prominent  black  eyes.  The  under  parts 
of  the  body  are  white,  with  a  yellowish  margin,  where  the  cck>t 
oi  the  back  and  belly  approach  each  other. 


366 


HUNTING     AT.1  VENTURES. 


0 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

HUNTING  THE  AMERICAN  ELK,  OR  WAPITI. 
^^^^~ ',,  HE  WAPITI  was  for  a  long  time  consi- 
dered as  a  mere  variety  of  the  moose. 
Ilearne  is  justly  entitled  to  the  credit 
of  having  insisted  upon  the  .specific  dis- 
tinctness of  this  animal  from  the  moose. 
The  size  and  appearance  of  the  elk  are 
imposing ;  his  air  denotes  confidence 
of  great  strength,  while  his  towering 
horns  exhibit  weapons  capable  of  doing 
n  uch  injury  when  offensively  employed.  The  head  is  beauti- 
fully formed,  tapering  to  a  narrow  point;  the  ears  are  large  and 
rapidly  movable :  the  eyes  are  full  and  dark  ;  the  horns  are  lofty, 
and  the  neck  at  once  slender,  vigorous  and  graceful.  The  beauty 
of  the  male  elk  is  still  further  heightened  by  the  long,  forward, 
curling  hair,  which  extends  from  the  head  to  the  breast  in  the 


HUNTING   THE   ELK.  367 


THE    WAPITI. 

manh<?r  01  a  ruff  or  beard  The  body  of  the  elk  is  beautifully 
formed,  and  the  limbs  slender,  yet  strong.  The  han  is  of  a  blue- 
ish-gray  color  in  autumn  ;  during  winter  it  continues  of  a  dark 
gray,  and  at  the  approach  of  spring  it  assumes  a  reddish  or  bright 
brown  color,  which  is  permanent  throughout  the  summer.  The 
croup  is  of  a  pale  yellowish-white.  There  is  no  perceptible  differ- 
ence of  color  between  the  male  and  female.  The  latter,  however, 
does  not  participate  in  the  "  branching  honors'1''  of  the  male. 
Almost  all  who  have  written  upon  the  elk,  have  remarked  the 
peculiar  apparatus  situated  beneath  the  eye  at  the  internal  angle. 
It  is  a  slit  below  the  inner  angle  of  each  eye,  lined  with  a  naked 
membrane,  which  secretes  an  unctuous  matter.  Hunters  assure 
us  that  the  elk  possesses  the  power,  by  strictly  closing  the  nostrils, 
of  forcing  the  air  through  these  apertures  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
make  a  noise  which  may  be  heard  at  a  considerable  distance. 

Elk  are  still  occasionally  found  in  the  remote  and  thinly  settled 
parts  of  Pennsylvania,  but  the  number  is  small;  it  is  only  in  the 
western  wilds  that  they  are  seen  in  considerable  herds.  The? 


368  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


are  fond  of  the  great  forests,  where  a  luxuriant  vegetation  affords 
them  an  abundant  supply  of  buds  and  tender  twigs ;  or  of  the 
great  plains,  where  the  solitude  is  seldom  interrupted,  and  all- 
bounteous  nature  spreads  an  immense  field  of  verdure  for  their 
support. 

The  elk  is  shy  and  retiring ;  having  acute  senses,  he  receives  • 
early  warning  of  the  approach  of  any  human  intruder.  The 
moment  the  air  is  tainted  by  the  odor  of  his  enemy,  his  head  is 
erected  with  spirit,  his  ears  thrown  rapidly  in  every  direction  to 
catch  the  sounds,  and  his  large  dark  glistening  eye  expresses  the 
most  eager  attention.  Soon  as  the  approaching  hunter  is  fairly 
discovered,  the  elk  bounds  along  for  a  few  paces,  as  if  trying  his 
strength  for  flight,  stops,  turns  half  round,  and  scans  his  pursuer 
with  a  steady  gaze,  then,  throwing  back  his  lofty  horns  upon  his 
neck,  and  projecting  his  taper  nose  forwards,  he  springs  from  the 
ground  and  advances  with  a  velocity  which  soon  leaves  the  object 
of  his  dread  far  out  of  sight. 

But  in  the  season  when  sexual  passion  reigns  with  its  wonted 
influence  over  the  animal  creation,  the  elk,  like  various  other 
creatures,  assumes  a  more  warlike  and  threatening  character. 
He  is  neither  so  easily  put  to  flight,  nor  can  he  be  approached 
with  impunity,  although  he  may  have  been  wounded.  His  horns 
and  hoofs  are.  then  employed  with  great  effect,  and  the  lives  of 
men  and  dogs  are  endangered  by  coming  within  his  reach.  This 
season  is  during  August  and  September,  when  the  horns  are  in 
perfect  order,  and  the  males  appear  filled  with  rage,  and  wage  the 
fiercest  war  with  each  'other  for  the  possession  of  the  females. 
During  this  season,  the  males  are  said  to  make  a  loud  and  un- 
pleasant noise,  which  is  compared  to  a  sound  between  the  neigh- 
ing of  a  stallion  and  the  bellowing  of  a  bull.  Towards  the  end  of 
May  or  the  beginning  of  June,  the  female  brings  forth  her  young, 
commonly  one,  but  very  frequently  two  in  number,  which  are 
generally  male  and  female. 

The  flesh  of  the  elk  is  highly  esteemed  by  the  Indians  and 
hunters  as  food,  and  the  horns,  while  in  their  soft  state,  are  also 
nocsidered  a  delicacy :  of  their  hides  a  great  variety  of  articles  of 


HUNTING   THE   ELK.  369 


dress  and  usefulness  are  prepared.  The  solid  portion  or  shaft  of 
the  perfect  horn  is  wrought  by  the  Indians  into  a  bow,  which  ia 
highly  serviceable  from  its  elasticity,  as  well  as  susceptible  of 
beauty  of  po.ish  and  form. 

The  warlike  bearing  of  the  elk,  when  hard  pressed  by  the 
hunters,  is  illustrated  in  the  following  instance,  from  Long's  Ex. 
pedition  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  "  A  herd  of  twenty  or  thirty 
elk  were  seen  at  no  great  distance  from  the  party,  standing  in  the 
water,  or  lying  upon  the  sand-beach.  One  of  the  finest  bucks 
was  singled  out  by  a  hunter,  who  fired  upon  him :  whereupon 
the  whole  herd  plunged  into  the  thicket  and  disappeared.  Rely- 
ing upon  the  skill  of  the  hunter,  and  confident  that  his  shot  was 
fatal,  several  of  the  party  dismounted  and  pursued  the  elk  into  the 
woods,  where  the  wounded  buck  was  soon  overtaken.  Finding 
his  pursuers  close  upon  him,  the  elk  turned  furiously  upon  the 
foremost,  who  only  saved  himself  by  spring  ng  into  a  thicket, 
which  was  impassable  to  the  elk,  whose  enormous  antlers,  becom- 
ing so  entangled  in  the  vines  as  to  be  covered  to  their  tips,  he  was 
held  fast  and  b.ind-folded,  and  was  despatched  by  repeated  bulleta 
and  stabs." 


370 


THE    OPOSSUM. 

CHAPTER  LX. 

HUNTING    THE   RACCOON,   THE   BLACK-TAILED   DEER,   AND   THE 

MUSK  OX. 

HE  RACCOON  is  well 
known  in  the  greater 
part  of  the  American 
Continent ;  and  the  rac- 
coon hunt  forms  the  bur- 
den of  many  popular  refrains  in  the 
United  States.  •  This  animal  possesses 
the  mischievousness  of  the  monkey, 
united  with  a  blood-thirsty  and  vindic- 
tive spirit.  He  slaughters  the  Tenants 
of  the  poultry-yard  with  indiscriminate  ferocity,  and  this,  in  many 
cases,  leads  to  his  own  destruction,  by  exciting  the  vengea'nce  of 
the  farmer. 

Being  peculiarly  fond  of  sweet  substances,  the  raccoon  is  occa- 
sionally very  destructive  to  plantations  of  sugar  cane,*  and  of 
Indian  corn.  While  the  ear  of  the  Indian  corn  is  still  young,  soft 
and  tender,  "in  the  milk,"  it  is  very  sweet,  and  is  then  eagerly 
sought  by  the  raccoons ;  troops  of  them  frequently  enter  fields  of 
maize,  and  in  one  night  commit  extensive  depredations,  both  by  tl»e 

•  Sir  Hans  Sloane ;  "  NaturaJ  RistovT  of  Jamaica." 


HCXTTNG    THE    RACCOON.  371 


(|aantity  of  grain  they  consume,  and  from  the  number  of  stalks 
they  break  down  by  their  weight. 

The  raccoon  is  an  excellent  climber,  and  his  strong  sharp  claw 
effectually  secure  him  from  being  shaken  off  the  branches  of  trees, 
tn  fact,  so  tenaciously  does  this  animal  hold  to  any  surface  upon 
which  it  can  rhake  an  impression  with  its  claws,  that  it  requires  a 
considerable  exertion  of  a  man's  strength  to  drag  him  off;  and  as 
long  as  even  a  single  foot  remains  attached,  he  continues  to  cling 
with  great  force.  I  have  had  frequent  occasions  to  pull  a  raccoon 
from  the  top  of  a  board  fence,  where  there  was  no  projection 
which  he  could  seize  by ;  yet,  such  was  the  power  and  obstinacy 
with  which  the  points  of  his  claws  were  stuck  into  the  board,  as 
repeatedly  to  oblige  me  to.  desist  for  fear  of  tearing  his  skin,  or 
otherwise  doing  him  injury  by  the  violence  necessary  to  detach 
his  hold. 

The  conical  form  of  the  head,  and  the  very  pointed  and  flexible 
character  of  the  muzzle  or  snout,  are  of  great  importance  in  aiding 
the  raccoon  to  examine  every  vacuity  and  crevice  to  which  he 
gains  access  ;  nor  does  he  neglect  any  opportunity  of  using  his 
natural  advantages,  but  explores  every  nook  and  cranny,  with  the 
most  persevering  diligence  and  attention,  greedily  feeding  on 
spiders,  worms,  or  other  insects  which  are  discovered  by  the 
scrutiny.  Where  the  opening  is  too  small  to  give  admittance  to 
his  nose,  he  employs  his  fore-paws,  and  shifts  his  position  or  turns 
his  paws  sidewisc,  in  order  to  facilitate  their  introduction  and 
effect  his  purpose.  This  disposition  to  feed  on  the  grubs  or  larva1, 
of  insects  must  render  this  animal  of  considerable  utility  in  forest 
lands,  in  consequence  of  the  great  numbers  of  injurious  and  de- 
structive insects  he  consumes.  He  is  also  said  to  catch  frogs  with 
considerable  address,  by  slily  creeping  up,  and  then  springing  on 
them,  so  as  to  grasp  them  with  both  paws. 

The  general  color  of  the  raccoon  is  blackish-gray,  which  ia 
paler  on  the  under  part  of  the  body,  and  has,  ove?  considerable 
part  of  the  neck,  back  and  sides,  some  fawn,  or  light  rust-colored 
hair  intermixed.  The  tail  is  covered  with  hair,  and  is  marked 
with  fi-e  or  six  black  rings  around  it,  on  a  yellowish-vvhJ*.e  ground. 


S72 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES 


THB    BLACK    TAILED    DEER. 


Occasionally,  the  number  of  the  raccoons  is  so  much  :r  creased 
as  to  render  them  very  troublesome  to  the  farmer,  in  the  low  and 
wooded  parts  of  Maryland,  bordering  on  the  Chesapeake  Bay. 
R&ccoon-hunts  by  moonlight  then  become  frequent.  This  is  rare 
sport,  and  requires  that  those  who  engage  in  it  should  possess  a 
considerable  amount  of  skill,  as  the  animal  is  noted  for  its  cunning 
and  activity.  It  also  requires  a  strong  constitution,  in  order  not  to 
suffer  from  the  exposure  in  the  low  country,  where  the  raccoon 
chiefly  abounds.  Yet  to  those  of  an  active  disposition,  nothing 
can  be  more  exciting  and  amusing  than  this  hunt.  Snares  are 
sometimes  set  for  the  raccoon,  but  the  animal  displays  his  sagacity 
by  avoiding  them  in  general.  Guns  and  dogs  are  the  surest 
instruments  of  destruction,  and  these  most  "  coon-hunters"  avail 
themselves  of.  During  the  winter  the  animals  are  fattest,  and 
ihen  the  country  people  have  the  most  leisure  to  pursue  them. 

The  B.a-'W-tailed  Deer  is  sometimes  called   the  Mule  Doer,  on 


HUNTING   THE   MUSK    OX. 


THE    MUSK   OX. 

account  of  a  resemblance  of  its  ears  to  those  of  the  mule.  Ac- 
cording to  Say's  description,  the  horns  are  slightly  grooved  and 
tuberculated  at  base,  having  a  small  branch  near  thereto.  The 
ears  are  very  long,  being  half  the  length  of  the  whole  antler,  and 
extending  to  its  principal  "bifurcation.  The  eye  is  larger  than  that 
of  the  common  deer,  and  '.he  subocular  sinus  much  larger.  The 
hair  is  coarser,  undulated  and  compressed,  resembling  that  of  the 
elk,  and  is  of  a  light  reddish  brown  color  above.  A  line  of  black- 
ish-tipped hair  is  found  upon  the  neck  and  back.  The  tail  is  of 
a  jetty  black  at  its  extremity. 

The  habits  of  this  animal  are  similar  to  those  of  its  kindred 
species,  except  that  it  does  not  run  at  full  speed,  but  bounds  along, 
raising  every  foot  from  the  ground  at  the  same  time.  It  is  found 
sometimes  in  the  woodlands,  but  most  frequently  in  prairies  and 
open  grounds.  Its  flesh  is  considered  inferior  to  that  of  the  com- 
mon deer.  It  is  very  fleet  in  its  movements,  and  much  more  diffi- 
cult to  come  up  with  than  the  other  varieties. 

Musk  Ox  is  found  in  the  greatest  abundance  in  the  rugged  and 


374  HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


scarcely  accessible  districts  lying-  nearest  the  North  Pok.  In 
destining  the  musk  ox  to  inhabit  the  domains  of  frost  and  stc /m, 
nature  has  paid  especial  attention  to  its  security  against  the  effects 
of  both  ;  first,  by  covering  its  body  with  a  coat  of  long,  dense  hair, 
and  then,  by  the  shortness  of  his  limbs,  avoiding  the  exposure 
that  would  result  from  a  greater  elevation  of  the  trunk. 

The  appearance  of  the  musk  ox  is  singular  and  imposing, 
owing  to  the  shortness  of  the  limbs,  its  broad,  flattened,  crooked 
horns,  and  the  long,  dense  hair  which  envelopes  the  whole  of  its 
trunk,  and  hangs  down  nearly  to  the  ground.  When  full  grown, 
the  musk  ox  is  ten  hands  and  a  half  high,  according  to  Parry,  and 
as  large  as  the  generality  of  the  English  black  cattle ;  but  their 
legs,  though  large,  are  not  so  long ;  nor  is  the  tail  longer  than  that 
of  a  bear,  and  like  the  tail  of  that  animal  it  always  bends  down- 
wards and  inwards,  so  that  it  is  entirely  hid  by  the  long  hair  of 
the  rump  and  hind-quarters.  The  hunch  on  the  shoulder  is  not 
large,  being  little  larger  in  proportion  than  that  of  a  deer.  Their 
hair  is  particularly  long  on  the  belly,  sides  and  hind-quarters ;  but 
the  longest  hair  about  them,  particularly  on  the  bulls,  is  under  the 
throat,  extending  from  the  chin  to  the  lower  part  of  the  chest, 
between  the  forelegs  ;  it  there  hangs  down  like  a  horse's  mane 
inverted,  and  is  full  as  long. 

Eiearne  states  that  he  has  seen  many  herds  of  musk  oxen  in  the 
high  northern  latitudes,  during  a  single  day's  journey,  and  some 
of  these  herds  contain  from  eighty  to  a  hundred  individuals,  of 
which  number  a  very  small  proportion  were  bulls,  and  it  was  quite 
uncommon  to  see  more  than  two  or  three  full  grown  males,  even 
with  the  largest  herds.  The  Indians  had  a  notion  that  the  males 
destroy  each  other  in  combating  for  the  females,  and  this  idea  is 
somewhat  supported  by  the  warlike  disposition  manifested  by 
these  animals  during  their  sexual  seasons.  The  bulls  are  then  so 
jealous  of  every  thing  that  approaches  their  favorites,  that  they 
will  not  only  attack  men  or  quadrupeds,  but  will  run  bellowing 
after  ravens  or  other  large  birds  that  venture  too  near  the  cows. 

Musk  oxen  are  found  in  the  greatest  numbers  within  the  arctic 
circle  ;  considerable  herds  are  occasionally  seen  near  the  coast  of 


HUNTING    THE    MUSK    OX.  375 


Hudson's  Bay,  throughout  the  distance  from  Knapp's  Bay  to 
Wager  Water.  They  have  in  a  few  instances  been  seen  as  low 
down  as  lat.  60°  N.  Capt.  Parry's  people  killed  some  individuals 
on  Melville  Island,  which  were  remarkably  well  fed  and  fat. 
They  are  not  commonly  found  at  a  great  distance  from  the  woods, 
and  when  they  feed  on  open  grounds  they  prefer  the  most  rocky 
and  precipitous  situations.  Yet,  notwithstanding  their  bulk  and 
apparent  unwieldiness,  they  climb  among  the  rocks  with  all  the 
ease  and  agility  of  the  goat,  to  which  they  are  quite  equal  in  sure- 
ness  of  foot.  Their  favorite  food  is  grass,  but  when  this  is  not  to 
be  had,  they  readily  feed  upon  moss,  the  twigs  of  willow,  or  tender 
shoots  of  pine.* 

From  the  shortness  of  the  limbs,  and  the  weight  of  the  body,  it 
might  be  inferred  that  the  musk  ox  could  not  run  with  any  speed  ; 
but  it  is  stated  by  Parry,  that  although  they  run  in  a  hobbling  sort 
of  canter  that  makes  them  appear  as  if  every  now  and  then  about 
to  fall,  yet  the  slowest  of  these  musk  oxen  can  far  outstrip  a  man. 
When  disturbed  and  hunted,  they  frequently  tore  up  the  ground 
with  their  horns,  and  turned  round  to  look  at  their  pursuers,  but 
never  attempted  to  make  an  attack. 

•  It  is  singular  and  well  worthy  of  observation,  that  the  dung  of  the  musk  ox, 
though  so  lar^e  an  animal,  is  not  larger  than,  and,  at  the  same,  ia  so  nearly  of  the 
shape  and  color  of  that  of  the  Alpine  Hare,  that  the  difference  is  not  easily  dis- 
tinguished, except  by  the  Indians,  though  the  quantity  generally  indicates  the 
animal  to  which  it  belonged.  In  the  country  adjacent  to  the  Coppermine  river, 
long  ridges  of  this  c'ung,  together  with  that  of  deer  and  other  animals,  were  seen 
by  Heaine.  Similar  appearances  were  observed  by  Parry  on  severs  a/  'he  North 
Georgian  Islands. 


376 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


TI1E   OPOSSUM. 

CHAPTER  LXI. 

HUNTING   THE   BEAVER   AND   OPOSSUM. 

URING  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  since  the  settlement  of  Ame- 
rica by  Europeans  the  Beaver 
has  been  a  favorite  object  with 
hunters.  The  general  aspect  of 
the  Beaver  is  that  of  a  very  large 
musk-rat.  But  the  greater  size 
of  the  beaver,  the  thickness  and 
breadth  of  its  head,  and  its  hori- 
zontally flattened,  broad  and  scaly 
tail,  render  it  impossible  to  mistake  it  for  any  other  creature  when 
closely  examined.  In  its  movements  both  on  shore  and  in  the 
water,  it  also  closely  resembles  the  musk-rat,  having  the  same 
quick  step,  with  gretit  vigor  and  celerity,  either  on  the  surface,  01 
in  the  depths  of  the  water. 


HUNTING    THE    BEAVER.  377 


The  beaver  has  long  been  the  theme  of  the  naturalist's  admira- 
tion, on  account  of  its  apparent  sagacity  and  skill  in  building  its 
habitation.  They  are  not  particular  in  the  site  they  select  for 
their  dwellings,  but  if  in  a  lake  or  pond  where  a  dam  is  not  re- 
quired, they  are  careful  to  build  where  the  water  is  sufficiently 
deep.  The  materials  used  in  constructing  their  dams,  are  the 
trunks  and  branches  of  small  birch,  mulbeny,  willow,  poplar,  &c. 
The  strength  of  their  teeth,'  and  their  perseverance  may  be  esti- 
mated by  the  size  of  the  trees  they  cut  down.  Dr.  Best  informs 
us  that  he  has  seen  a  mulberry  tree,  eight  inches  in  diameter, 
which  had  been  gnawed  down  by  the  beaver.  These  are  cut  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  fall  into  the  water,  and  then  floated  towards 
the  site  of  the  dam.  The  figure  of  the  dam  varies  according  as 
the  stream  has  a  gentle  or  a  rapid  current.  Along  with  the  trunks 
and  branches  of  trees  they  intermingle  mud  and  stones,  to  give 
greater  security,  and  the  dams  remain  long  after  the  beavers  have 
been  exterminated.  The  dwellings  of  the  beaver  are  formed  of 
the  same  materials  as  the  dam,  and  are  adapted  in  size  to  the 
number  of  the  inhabitants.  These  are  seldom  more  than  four  old 
and  six  or  eight  young  ones.  The  walls  are  very  skillfully  and 
strongly  constructed,  and  the  whole  fabric  is  a  curious  evidence 
of  the  sagacity  of  the  animal. 

To  capture  beavers  residing  on  a  small  river  or  creek,  the 
Indians  find  it  necessary  to  stake  the  stream  across  to  prevent  the 
animals  from  escaping,  and  then  they  try  to  ascertain  where  the 
vaults  or  washes  in  the  banks  are  situated.  This  can  only  be 
done  by  those  who  are  very  experienced  in  such  explorations 
and  is  thus  performed  : — The  hunter  is  furnished  with  an  ice-chise 
lashed  to  a  handle  four  or  five  feet  in  length  ;  with  this  -nstrument 
he  strikes  against  the  ice  as  he  goes  along  the  edge  of  the  banks. 
The  sound  produced  by  the  blow  informs  him  when  he  is  opposite 
one  of  these  vaults.  When  one  is  discovered,  a  hole  is  cut  through 
the  ice  of  sufficient  size  to  admit  a  full-grown  beaver,  and  the  search 
is  continued  until  as  many  of  the  places  of  retreat  are  discovered  as 
possible.  During  the  time  the  most  expert  hunters  are  thus  occu- 
p.ed,  the  others  with  the  women  are  busy  in  breaking  into  the 


878  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


beaver-hous^x,  which,  as  may  be  supposed  from  «vl.at  has  been 
already  stated,  is  a  task  of  some  difficulty.  The  beavers,  alarmed 
at  the  invasion  of  their  dwelling,  take  to  the  water  and  swim  with 
surprising  swiftness  to  their  retreats  in  the  banks,  but  their  en- 
trance is  betrayed  to  the  hunters  watching  the  holes  in  the  ice,  by 
the  motion  and  discoloration  of  the  water.  The  entrance  is  in- 
stantly closed  with  stakes  of  wood,  and  the  beaver  instead  of  find- 
ing shelter  in  his  cave,  is  made  prisoner  and  destroyed.  The 
hunter  then  pulls  the  animal  out,  if  within  reach,  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  his  hand  and  arm,  or  by  a  hook  designed  for  this  use, 
fastened  to  a  long  handle.  Beaver-houses  found  in  lakes  or  other 
standing  waters  offer  an  easier  prey  to  the  hunters,  as  there  is  no 
occasion  for  staking  the  water  across. 

Among  the  Hudson's  Bay  Indians  every  hunter  has  the  exclu- 
sive right  to  all  the  beavers  caught  in  the  washes  discovered  by 
him.  Each  individual  on  finding  one,  places  some  mark,  as  a  poJe 
or  the  branch  of  a  tree  stuck  up,  in  order  to  know  his  own. 
Beavers  caught  in  any  house  are  also  the  property  of  the  dis- 
coverer, who  takes  care  to  mark  his  claim,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
washes.* 

The  number  of  beavers  killed  in  the  northern  parts  of  this 
country  is  exceedingly  great,  even  at  the  present  time,  after  the 
fur  trade  has  been  carried  on  for  so  many  years,  and  the  most  in 
discriminate  warfare  waged  uninterruptedly  against  the  species. 
In  the  year  1820,  sixty  thousand  beaver  skins  were  sold  by  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  which  we  can  by  no  means  suppose  to 
be  the  whole  number  killed  during  the  preceding  season.  If  to 
these  be  added  the  quantities  collected  by  the  traders  from  the 
Indians  of  the  Missouri  country,  we  may  form  some  idea  of  the 
immense  number  of  these  animals  which  exist  throughout  the  vast 
regions  of  the  north  and  west. 

It  is  a  subject  of  regret  that  an  animal  so  valuable  and  prolific 

•  Lewis  and  Clark  relate  an  instance  which  fell  under  their  observation  of  one 
beaver  being  caught  in  two  traps  belonging  to  different  owners,  it  having  one  paw 
In  each.  The  proprietors  of  the  traps  were  engaged  in  a  contest  for  the  beaver, 
when  the  above  named  distinguished  travellers  arrived  and  settled  the  JispuM 
between  them  by  an  equitable  arrangjuijiit. 


HUNTING    THE    BEAVER.  379 


should  be  hunted  in  a  manner  tending  so  evidently  .o  the  extermi- 
nation of  the  species,  when  a  little  care  and  management  on  the 
part  of  those  interested,  might  prevent  unnecessary  destruction, 
and  increase  the  sources  of  their  revenue.  The  old  beavers  are 
frequently  killed  within  a  short  time  of  their  littering  season,  and 
with  every  such  death  from  three  to  six  are  destroyed.  The 
young  are  often  killed -before  they  have  attained  half  their  growth 
and  value,  and  of  necessity  long  before  they  have  contributed  to 
the  continuance  of  their  species. 

In  a  few  years,  comparatively  speaking,  the  beaver  has  been 
exterminated  in  all  the  Atlantic  and  in  the  western  states,  as  far 
as  the  middle  and  upper  waters  of  the  Missouri ;  while  in  the 
Hudson's  Bay  possessions  they  are  becoming  annually  more 
scarce,  and  the  race  will  eventually  be  extinguished  throughout 
the  whole  continent.  A  few  individuals  may,  for  a  time,  elude  the 
immediate  violence  of  persecution,  and  like  the  degraded  descen- 
dants of  the  aboriginals  of  our  soil,  be  occasionally  exhibited  as 
meJancholy  mementos  of  the  tribes  long  previously  whelmed  in 
the  fathomless  gulf  of  avarice. 

The  Indians  inhabiting  the  countries  watered  by  the  tributaries 
of  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi,  take  the  beavers  principally  by 
trapping,  and  are  generally  supplied  with  steel-traps  by  the 
traders,  who  do  not  sell,  but  lend  or  hire  them,  in  order  to  keep 
the  Indians  dependent  upon  themselves,  and  also  to  lay  claim  to  the 
furs  which  they  may  procure.  The  name  of  the  trader  being 
stamped  on  the  trap,  it  is  equal  to  a  certificate  of  enlistment,  and 
indicates,  when  an  Indian  carries  his  furs  to  another  trading  estab- 
lishment, that  the  individual  wishes  to  avoid  the  payment  of  his 
debts.  The  business  of  trapping  requires  great  experience  and 
caution,  as  the  senses  of  the  beaver  are  very  keen,  and  enable  him 
to  detect  the  recent  presence  of  the  hunter  by  the  slightest  traces. 
It  is  necessary  that  the  hands  should  be  washed  clean  before  the 
trap  is  handled  and  baited,  and  that  every  precaution  should  be 
employed  to  elude  the  vigilance  of  the  animal. 

The  bait  which  is  used  to  entice  the  beavers  is  prepared  from 
the  substance  called  castor  (caalorcum,j  obtained  from  the  glon- 


380  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


dulous  pouches  of  the  male*  animal,  which  contain  sometime* 
from  two  to  three  ounces.  This  substance  is  called  by  tht>  hunters 
bark  stone,  and  is  squeezed  gently  into  an  open  mouthed  phial. 

The  contents  of  five  or  six  of  these  castor  bags  are  mixed 
with  a  nutmeg,  twelve  or  fifteen  cloves,  and  thirty  grains  of  cinna- 
mon, in  fine  powder,  and  then  the  whole  is  stirred  up  with  as 
much  whiskey  as  will  give  it  the  consistency  of  mustard  prepared 
for  the  table.  This  mixture  must  be  kept  closely  corked  up,  and 
in  four  or  five  days  the  odor  becomes  more  powerful,  with  care  it 
may  be  preserved  for  months  without  injury.  Various  other 
strong  aromatics  are  sometimes  used  to  increase  the  pungency  of 
the  odor.  Some  of  this  preparation  smeared  upon  the  bits  of  wood 
with  which  the  traps  are  baited,  will  entice  the  beaver  from  a 
great  distance. 

The  castor,  whose  odor  is  similar  to  tanner's  ooze,  gets  the 
name  of  bark-stone  from  its  resemblance  to  finely  powdered  bark. 
The  sacks  containing  it  are  about  two  inches  in  length.  Behind 
these,  and  between  the  skin  and  root  of  the  tail,  are  found  two 
other  oval  cysts,  lying  together,  which  contain  a  pure  strong  o;. 
of  a  rancid  smell. 

During  the  winter  season  the  beaver  becomes  very  fat,  and  its 
flesh  is  esteemed  by  the  hunters  to  be  excellent  food.  But  those 
occasionally  caught  in  the  summer  are  very  thin,  and  unfit  for  the 
table.  They  lead  so  wandering  a  life  at  this  season,  and  are  so 
much  exhausted  by  the  collection  of  materials  for  building,  or  the 
winter's  stock  of  provision,  as  well  as  by  suckling  their  young,  as 
to  be  generally  at  that  time  in  a  very  poor  condition.  Their  fur 
during  the  sun^mer  is  of  little  value,  and  it  is  only  in  winter  that 
it  is  to  be  obtained  in  that  state  which  renders  it  so  desirable  to  the 
fur  traders. 

The  Opossum,  is  one  of  the  most  common  animals  within  our  bor- 
ders, and  is  annually  killed  or  captured  in  large  numbers.  Yet  it  is 
still  considered  as  a  sort  of  anomaly  among  animals,  and  the  pecu- 
liarities of  its  sexual  intercourse,  gestation  and  parturition,  are  to 
this  day  veiled  in  obscurity.  The  opossum  has  a  number  of 

•  Juxta  preputium  utroque  latero  existunU 


HUNTING   THE   OPOSSUM.  381 


peculiarities  which  deserve  to  be  mentioned.  It  has  a  very  large 
number  of  teeth,  its  hind  feet  are  actually  rendered  hands  by  short, 
flesh*y,  and  opposabie  thumbs,  enabling  the  animal  to  grasp  objects 
firmly  with  these  feet ;  it  has  a  prehensile  tail  by  curving  which 
at  the  extremity,  the  animal  can  depend  from  the  limb  of  a  tree, 
or  c  iher  projection,  and  hanging  in  security,  gather  fruit,  or  seize 
r:ny  prey  within  his  reach.  The  opossum  has  a  very  acute  sense 
of  touch,  which  contributes  to  its  safety  during  the  nocturnal  ramble 
in  which  he  indulges.  The  general  color  of  the  animal  Js  a 
whitish  gray.  On  the  face  the  wool  is  short  and  of  a  smoky 
white  color ;  that  on  the  belly  is  of  the  same  character.  The  tail 
is  covered  with  small  hexagonal  scales,  interspersed  with  short, 
coarse  hairs. 

The  opossum  is  a  nocturnal  animal,  depending  more  upon  its 
cunning  than  its  strength  for  its  safety.  Its  motions  are  slow,  and 
clumsy  in  appearance.  Birds,  small  quadrupeds,  eggs,  insects, 
and  the  denizens  of  the  poultry-yard  form  its  principal  food.  Its 
flesh  is  said  to  resemble  roast  pig  in  flavor. 

The  hunting  of  the  opossum  is  a  favorite  sport  with  the  country 
people,  who  frequently  go  out  with  their  dogs  at  night,  after  the 
autumnal  frosts  have  begun  and  the  persimmon  fruit  is  in  its  most 
delicious  state.  The  opossum  as  soon  as  he  discovers  the  ap- 
proach of  his  enemies,  lies  perfectly  close  to  the  branch,  or  places 
himself  snugly  in  the  angle  where  two  limbs  separate  from  each 
other.  The  dogs,  however,  soon  announce  the  fact  of  his  presence 
by  their  baying,  and  the  hunter  ascending  the  tree  discovers  the 
branch  upon  which  the  animal  is  seated,  and  begins  to  shake  it 
with  great  violence  to  alarm  and  cause  him  to  relax  his  hold. 
This  is  soon  effected,  and  the  opossum  attempting  to  escape  to 
another  limb  is  pursued  immediately,  and  the  shaking  is  renewed 
with  greater  violence,  until  at  length  the  terrified  quadruped 
allows  himself  to  drop  to  the  ground,  where  hunters  or  dogs  are 
prepared  to  despatch  him. 

Should  the  hunter,  as  frequently  happens,  be  unaccompanied 
by  dogs  when  the  opossum  falls  to  the  ground,  it  does  not  im- 
mediately make  its  escape,  but  steals  slowly  and  quietly  to  a  little 


382  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


distance,  and  then  gathering  itself  into  as  small  a  compass  is  pos« 
?»ble,  remains  as  still  as  if  dead.  Should  there  be  any  quantity 
of  grass  or  underwood  near  the  tree,  this  apparently  simple  artifice 
is  frequently  sufficient  to  secure  the  animal's  escape,  as  it  is  diffi- 
cult by  moonlight  or  in  the  shadow  of  the  tree  to  distinguish  it, 
and  if  the  hunter  has  not  carefully  observed  the  spot  where  it 
fell,  his  labor  is  often  in  vain.  This  circumstance,  however,  is 
generally  attended  to,  and  the  opossum  derives  but  little  benefit 
from  his  instinctive  artifice. 

After  remaining  in  this  apparently  lifeless  condition  for  a  con- 
siderable time,  or  so  long  as  any  noise  indicative  of  danger  can  be 
heard,  the  opossum  slowly  unfolds  himself,  and  creeping  as  closely 
as  possible  upon  the  ground  would  fain  sneak  offunperceived.  Upon 
a  shout  or  outcry  in  any  tone  from  his  persecutor,  he  immediately 
renews  his  death-like  attitude  and  stillness.  If  then  approached, 
moved  or  handled,  he  is  still  seemingly  dead,  and  might  deceive  any 
one  not  accustomed  to  his  actions.  This  feigning  is  repeated  aa 
frequently  as  opportunity  is  allowed  him  of  attempting  to  escape, 
and  is  known  so  well  to  the  country  folks  as  to  have  long  since 
passed  into  a  proverb.  (l  He  is  playing  'possum"  is  applied,  with 
great  readiness,  by  them  to  any  one  who  is  thought  to  act  deceit- 
fully, or  wishes  to  appear  what  he  is  not. 

As  the  female  produces  from  twelve  to  sixteen  cubs  at  a  time, 
there  is  but  little  danger  of  the  animal  becoming  scarce  at  an  early 
day.  Its  usual  haunts  are  thick  forests,  and  the  hollows  of  de- 
cayed trees  serve  it  for  a  refuge  during  the  day. 


HUNTING    THE    FISliER. 


883 


THE   FISHU. 

CHAPTER  LXII. 

HUNTING   THE   FISHER. 

THE  Fisher,  or  Black  Cat  of  our  hunters  is  a  large  and  power 
ful  animal,  standing  nearly  a  foot  from  the  ground.  It  was 
formerly  very  abundant  in  the  Middle  States,  but  is  now  confined 
o  the  thinly  settled  Northern  districts.  It  is  a  nocturnal  species, 
ind  lives  chiefly  on  the  smaller  quadrupeds,  but  also  devours 
frogs,  fish  and  serpents.  It  climbs  with  great  ease,  and  takes  up 
its  abode  in  the  trunk  of  a  tree.  The  form  of  the  body  is  typical. 
Head  broad  ;  nose  acute  ;  ears  about  three  inches  from  the  nose, 
broad,  rounded  and  distant ;  the  fore  feet  are  shorter  than  the  hind 
ones,  and  the  soles  of  both  are  covered  with  short  hair  ;  the  tail  i* 
long  and  bushy,  and  the  fur  very  fine  and  lustrous ;  the  color  is 
grayish  over  the  head  and  anterior  parts  of  the  body  ;  dark  browo 
o*  black  behind. 


884  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


The  name  of  Fisher,  which  has  been  censured  as  not  applicable 
to  this  animal,  is,  however,  that  by  which  it  is  best  known,  and 
which  it  has  received  from  its  cnaracteristic  habits.  Richardson 
states  that  it  feeds  on  the  hoards  of  frozen  fish  stored  up  by  the 
residents.  We  are  informed  by  a  person  who  resided  many  years 
near  Lake  Oneida,  where  the  Fisher  was  then  common,  that  the 
name  was  derived  from  its  singular  fondness  for  the  fish  used  to 
bait  traps.  The  hunters  were  in  the  practice  of  soaking-  their  fish 
over  night,  and  it  was  frequently  carried  off  by  the  Fisher,  whose 
well  known  tracks  were  seen  in  the  v'cinity.  Tn  Hamilton  county 
it  is  still  numerous  and  troublesome.  The  hunters  there  have 
assured  me  that  they  have  known  a  fisher  to  destroy  twelve  out 
of  thirteen  traps  in  a  line  of  not  more  than  fourteen  miles  in  length. 
It  brings  forth  two  young  annually.  The  hunting  season  for  the 
fisher  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  commences  about  the  tenth 
of  October,  and  lasts  to  the  middle  of  May,  when  the  furs  are  not 
so  valuable.  The  ordinary  price  is  $1  50  per  skin  ;  but  it  is  not 
so  fine,  nor  so  highly  valued  as  that  of  the  sable.  Its  geographical 
range  is  included  between  the  fortieth  and  seventieth  parallels  of 
latitudes,  extending  across  the  continent. 

The  American  Gray  Rabbit,  so  common  in  the  United  States, 
has  been,  until  recently,  confounded  with  others.  The  following 
description  by  Schreber,  which  seems  to  have  been  overlooked  by 
modern  writers,  applies  very  well  to  our  rabbit : — 

"Cheeks  full  of  thick  hair;  ears  thin  externally,  with  few  hairs, 
naked  within,  and  when  bent  forward,  do  not  reach  the  nose ; 
when  bent  backwards,  they  reach  the  shoulder  blades ;  eyes 
large  and  black,  with  4-5  bristles  above  them  ;  whiskers  mostly 
black ;  some  are  white ;  the  longest  appears  to  reach  beyond  the 
head.  Color  in  summer:  ears  brownish,  with  a  very  narrow 
black  border  on  the  outer  margin,  of  the  same  breadth  to  the  tips, 
or  becomes  effaced  ;  brown  cheeks,  back  and  sides ;  fore  and  hind 
legs  light  brown  externally,  mixed  with  black ;  tall  round  the 
breech,  white  ;  feet  full  of  short  hair  of  a  light  brown,  unmixed  with 
black,  changing  towards  the  inside  to  a  grey  white  ;  upper  part 
of  the  tail  like  that  of  the  back,  (perhaps  mixed  with  black,  as 


HUNTING    THE    AMERICAN    GRAY    RABBIT. 


385 


GRAY    RABBI1. 


I'ennant  describes  it  black  ;)  beneath  white  ;  throat  white  ;  lower 
part  of  the  neck  bright  brown,  mixed  with  white ;  chest  and  bjlly, 
inside  of  fore  and  hind  legs,  white.  Color  in  winter,  when  it  Joes 
change,  white." 

The  Gray  Rabbit  changes  but  little  with  the  season,  except 
that  the  fur  is  longer  and  finer,  and  has  a  tendency  to  white.  It 
is  a  timid,  inoffensive  creature  ;  and  were  it  not  for  its  excessive 
vigilance  and  its  astonishing  powers  of  reproduction,  would  soon 
be  extirpated.  Besides  man,  it  has  many  other  enemies.  It  is 
the  favorite  food  of  the  two  lynxes,  and  is  destroyed  by  the  weasel, 
skunk,  hawUs,  <  wls  and  serpents. 

Its  food  consists  of  bark,  buds,  grass,  wild  berries,  etc. ;  and  in 
cultivated  -districts,  it  is  said  to  enter  gardens  and  destroy  vege- 
25 


386 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


THE    JUMPING   MOUSE. 

tables.  Unlike  its  congeners,  it  does  not  confine  itself  to  th« 
wood,  but  is  frequently  found  in  open  fields,  or  where  there  is  a 
eligfc  copse  or  under-brush.  It  does  not  burrow  like  its  closely 
allied  species  the  European  Rabbit,  but  makes  its  form,  which  is 
a  slight  depression  in  the  ground,  sheltered  by  some  low  shrub. 
It  frequently  resorts  to  a  stone  wall,  or  a  heap  of  stones,  or  a  hol- 
low tree,  and  sometimes  to  the  burrow  of  some  other  animal.  Its 
habits  are  nocturnal ;  and  they  may  often  be  seen  in  the  morning, 
or  early  part  of  the  afternoon,  although  in  retired  situations  they 
have  been  seen  at  all  times  of  the  day.  Its  flesh,  though  black 
and  dry,  is  well  flavored,  although  in  this  respect  it  varies 
with  the  quality  of  its  previous,  food.  It  breeds  in  New 
York  State,  three  times  in  the  season,  producing  from  four  to 
six  at  a  birth.  It  is  the  smallest  of  the  species  found  m  this 


HUNTING   THE  JUMPING    MOUSE.  887 


State,  and  so  much  resembles  in  its  form  the  European  Rabbit, 
that  the  same  popular  name  has  been  applied  to  it,  although  differ- 
ing in  color  and  some  of  its  habits.  This,  however,  is  of  no  con- 
sequence, for  the  name  of  American  or  Gray  Rabbit  is  sufficiently 
distinctive.  It  has  not  a  wide  geographical  range.  It  is  found 
from  New  Hampshire  to  Florida,  but  its  western  limits. are  not  yet 
established. 

The  Jumping  Mouse  is  found  from  Hudson's  Bay  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  through  the  Western  States  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia 
river.  From  the  distribution  of  its  colors,  and  its  slender  propor- 
tions, it  has  a  delicate  and  beautiful  appearance.  It  is  very  agile, 
jumping  in  the  manner  of  the  deer-mouse,  and  is,  in  common  with 
that  animal,  called  ihe  jumping  mouse.  It  seems  to  prefer  forests 
and  wooded  places,  but  is  often  found  in  meadows  or  cultivated 
grounds,  where  grain  and  seeds  of  grasses  abound.  It  is  said  to 
build  its  nest  in  trees.  According  to  Richardson,  in  thfe  northern 
regions,  it  becomes  an  inmate  of  the  fur  establishments,  and  makes 
hoards  of  grain  in  various  places.  It  is  usually  about  six  inches 
long ;  the  color  is  brownish  alone,  the  feet  and  beneath  being 
white.  The  tail  is  hairy,  being  as  long  as  the  body.  They  arc 
said  to  be  quite  as  good  eating  as  the  most  of  the  §qi  -rels,  ano. 
kre  frequently  trapped  by  the  hunters 


HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER  LXIII. 


HUNTING    THE    AMERICAN    DEER. 

Deer  is  found   in  almost  every  part  fir  the 


IHE   Xmerican 

Northern  and  Western  States,  where  there  is  sufficient  fores' 
to  afford  them  food  and  cover.  It  even  ranges  South  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  but  very  seldom.  It  is  very  abundant  in  some  parts 
of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  in  spite  of  the  destructive  efforts 
of  man  and  the  wolves.  The  deer  has  one,  and  occasionally  ~vo 
fawns  at  a  birth,  which  generally  occurs  in  May  or  June.  In  the 
rutting  season  the  males  are  restless  and  bold,  and  are  observed  to 
have  the  neck  considerably  swelled.  When  alarmed.. they  stamp 
quickly  and  often  upon  the  ground,  and  emit  a  sound  like  a  shrill 
whistle,  which  may  be  heard  at  a  great  distance.  When  mortally 
wounded,  they  often  give  a  faint  bleat,  like  that  of  a  call. 
When  brought  to  bay,  't  throws  ofF  its  habitual  timidity,  its  eyes 
glare  fiercely  around,  every  hair  on  its  body  bristles  up,  and 
appears  as  if  directed  forward,  and  it  dashes  boldly  upon  its  f  e. 


HUNTING    THE    AMERICAN    DEER.  389 


Its  horns  are  cast  usually  in  the  winter,  but  the  period  appears  to 
depend  upon  the  latitude  and  the  severity  of  the  season.  In  New 
York,  the  deer  are  protected  by  law  during  the  rutting  season. 

Description. — Heal  long  and  slender  ;  muzzle  pointed-;  eyes 
large  and  lustrous,  the  lachrymal  pits  consisting  of  a  slight  fold  of 
the  skin  ;  tail  moderate,  depressed  ;  legs  slender  ;  a  glandular  pouch 
concealed  by  a  thick  tuft  of  rigid  hairs  inside  of-  the  hind  legs, 
odoriferous,  and  connected  with  the  sexual  appetite.  The  horns 
of  the  adult  male  vary  so  much  in  shape,  that  scarcely  any  two 
are  alike;  appearing  to  depend  upon  age,  season  and  abundance 
or  scarcity  of  food.  In  the  first  season  they  are  simple,  cylindrical 
and  pointed,  and  in  this  state  they  are  known  as  spike  bucks  ;  in 
the  following  season,  they  have  a  short,  straight  antler;  and  the 
number  increases  until  the  fourth  season,  when  the  following  is 
the  most  usual  condition  of  the  horns  :  the  main  stem  rises  upward 
and  laterally,  and  then  makes  a  broad  curve  forward,  with  the 
tips  turned  inward  and  downward;  on  the  inner  and  slightly  ante 
rior  surface  of  the  main  stem,  arises  a  short  brow  antler,  directed 
forward  and  upward  ;  the  stem,  thus  far,  is  roughened  by  nodosi- 
ties and  furrows  ;  above  this,  a  branch  is  thrown  off  from  the  inte- 
rior or  anterior,  curving  inwards  and  forwards,  and  occasionally 
another  branch  before  reaching  the  tip.  These  first  and  second 
oranches  are  occasionally  themselves  bifurcated  ;  and  in  one  before 
me  now,  the  horns  exhibit  six  tips  on  one  side!  including  those  of 
the  brow  antlers,  and  on  the  other  nine,  the  first  branch  being 
bifid,  the  second  trifid,  a  third  simple,  and  the  extreme  tip  itself 
bifid.  When  the  horn  is  palmated,  the  flattening  occurs  at  the 
origin  of  the  first  branch.  In  many  specimens,  there  is  only  the 
brow  antler,  and  a  single  branch  above.  Fur,  composed  of  flattened 
angular  hairs,  lying  smooth  on  the  body. 

Color. — Bluish-gray  in  the  autumn  and  winter,  dusky  reddisn 
or  fulvous  in  the  spring,  becoming  bluish  in  the  summer  ;  the 
fawns  are  irregularly  spotted  with  white ;  the  gray  or  reddish 
cclor  in  the  adult  extends  over  the  whole  head,  back,  sides,  and 
upper  part  of  the  tail ;  a  few  white  hairs  often  observed  on  the 
rump  at  the  origin  of  the  tail ;  beneath  the  chin,  throat,  belly 


390 


HUNTING     ADVENTURES. 


THE    KED  DEER. 

and  inside  of  legs  and  under  side  of  tail,  always  white  ;  ears  mar. 
gined  with  dark  brown,  and  often  with  white  hairs  within,  and  a 
white  circle  round  the  eyes ;  hoofs  jet  black. 

The  American  Deer  is  considered  by  the  hunters  the  king  of  game 
beasts,  and  consequently,  he  is  pursued  with  unrelenting  cruelty. 
Before  the  Europeans  visited  America,  the  deer  roamed  the  forests 
from  the  brink  of  the  Atlantic  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  He  was  pur- 
sued by  the  Indians  for  the  sake  of  his  skin  and  flesh,  but  still  the 
number  of  his  race  suffered  but  little  diminution.  But  when  the 
Europeans  had  obtaired  a  foothold  upon  the  continent,  his  de- 
struction was  greatly  accelerated,  and  as  cities  and  towns  sprang 
up,  he  was  driven  to  the  forests  of  the  interior.  Still  he  was  pur- 
sued with  as  much  ardor  as  the  Red  Deer  of  Europe  was  in  the 
middle  ages,  European  and  Indian  joining  in  the  chase.  The 


BUNTING    THE    RED    DEER. 


391 


number  of  the   Deer  decreased  in  proportion  to  the  advance  ot 
civilization,  and  now  but  few  are  found  in  the  Atlantic  states. 

The  Indian  method  of  deer  hunting  differs  in  many  respects 
from  that  originally  pursued  by  the  Europeans,  and  is  now  gen- 
erally adopted  anong  the  western  hunters.  A  number  of  hunters 
divide  themselves  into  several  parties  and  proceed  by  different 
paths  through  the  same  forest.  When  a  deer  trail  has  been  dis- 
covered, a  signal  is  given,  either  by  hallooing  or  firing  a  gun, 
and  the  hunters  upon  tiie  olher  tracks  station  themselves  in  such 
a  position  as  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  animal,  and- shoot  him  if 
he  attempt  to  pass  them.  The  hunters,  who  have  discovered 
the  deer,  if  they  cannot  get  a  shot  at  him,  or  them,  halloo  and  drive 
the  deer  before  them.  In  this  manner,  they  are  brought  within 
the  range  of  the  concealed  hunters  upon  one  of  the  other  tracks, 
and  shot.  Besides  this  method,  by  which  great  numbers  are  de- 
stroyed, the  Indians  use  disguises  to  enable  them  to  approach  the 
deer  unsuspected,  and  frequently  a  single  hunter  commits  con 
siderable  havoc  amoncr  them. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

MR.  CUMMING'S  ENCOUNTER  WITH  FOUU  LIONS. 

OUR  old  friend,  Mr.  Gumming,  thus  describes  an  encounter  which 
he  had  with  four  lions.  Swint  had  just  milked  the  cows,  and  was 
driving  them  from  the  wooded  peninsula  in  which  we  lay,  athwart 
the  open  ground,  to  graze  with  my  other  cattle  in  the  forest  beyond, 
he  beheld  four  majestic  lions  walking  slowly  across  the  vley,  a  few 
hundred  yards  below  my  camp,  and  disappear  over  the  river's  bank, 
at  a  favorite  drinking-place.  These  mighty  monarchs  of  the  waste 
had  been  holding  a  prolonged'  repast  over  the  carcases  of  some  zebras 
killed  by  Present,  and  had  now  come  down  the  river  to  slake  their 
thirst.  This  being  reported,  I  instantly  saddled  up  two  horses,  and 
directing  my  boys  to  lead  after  me  as  quickly  as  possible  my  small 
remaining  pack  of  sore-footed  dogs,  T  rode  ibrth,  accompanied  by 
Cavey  carrying  a  spare  gun,  to  give  battle  to  the  four  grim  lions. 
As  I  rode  out  of  the  peninsula,  they  showed  themselves  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  and,  guessing  that  their  first  move  would  be  a  disgraceful 
retreat,  I  determined  to  ride  so  as  to  make  them  think  that  I  had 
not  observed  them,  until  I  should  be  able  to  cut  off  their  retreat  from 
the  river,  across  the  open  vley,  to  the  endless  forest  beyond. 

That  point  being  gained,  I  knew  that  they,  still  doubtful  of  my 
having  observed  them,  would  hold  their  ground  on  the  river's  bank, 
until  my  dogs  came  up,  when  I  could  more  advantageously  make  the 
attack.  I  cantered  along,  as  if  I  meant  to  pass  the  lions  at  a  dis- 
tance of  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  until  I  was  opposite  to  them,  when  I 
altered  my  course,  and  inclined  a  little  nearer.  The  lions  then 
(392) 


HUNTING  LIONS.  395 


•bowed  symptoms  of  uneasiness ;  they  rose  to  their  feet,  and,  over- 
hauling us  for  half  a  minute,  disappeared  over  the  bank.  They  re- 
appeared, however,  directly,  a  little  farther  down ;  and  finding  that 
their  present  position  was  bare,  they  walked  majestically  along  the 
top  of  the  bank  to  a  spot  a  few  hundred  yards  lower,  where  the  bank 
was  well  woo-isd.  Here  they  seemed  half  inclined  to  await  my  attack ; 
two  stretched  out  their  massive  arms,  and  lay  down  in  the  grass,  and 
the  other  two  sat  up  like  dogs  upon  their  haunches.  Deeming  it 
probable  that  when  my  dogs  came  up  and  I  approached  they  would 
still  retreat  and  make  a  bolt  across  the  open  vley,  I  directed  Carey 
to  canter  forward  and  take  up  the  ground  in  the  centre  of  the  vley 
about  four  hundred  yards  in  advance;  whereby  the  lions  would  be 
compelled  either  to  give  us  battle  or  to  swim  the  river,  which,  although 
narrow,  I  knew  they  would  be  very  reluctant  to  do.  I  now  sat  in 
my  saddle,  anxiously  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  dogsj.  and  whilst 
thus  momentarily  disengaged,  I  was*  much  struck  with  the  majestic 
and  truly  appalling  appearance  which  these  four  noble  lions  exhibited. 
They  were  all  full-grown  immense  males  ;  and  I  felt,  I  must  confess, 
a  little  nervous,  and  very  uncertain  as  to  what  might  be  the  issue  of 
the  attack. 

When  the  dogs  came  up  I  rode  right  in  towards  the  lions.  They 
sprang  to  their  feet,  and  trotted  slowly  along  the  bank  of  the  river, 
once  or  twice  halting  and  facing  about  for  half  a  minute.  Immedi- 
ately below  them  there  was  a  small  determined  bend  in  the  streafh, 
forming  a  sort  of  peninsula.  Into  this  bend  they  disappeared,  and 
ihi  next  moment  I  was  upon  them  with  my  dogs.  They  had  taken 
shelter  in  a  dense  angle  of  the  peninsula,  well  sheltered  by  high  treea 
end  reeds.  Into  this  retreat  the  dogs  at  once  boldly  followed  them, 
making  a  loud  barking,  which  was  instantly  followed  by  the  terrible 
voices  of  the  lions,  which  turned  about  and  charged  to  the  end  of 
the  cover.  Next  moment,  however,  I  heard  them  plunge  into  the 
river,  when  I  sprang  from  my  horse,  and  running  to  the  top  of  the 
bank,  I  saw  three  of  them  ascending  the  opposite  bank,  the  dogs  fol- 
lowing. One  of  them  bounded  away  across  the  open  plain  at  top 
speed,  but  the  other  two,  finding  themselves  followed  by  the  dogs, 
immediately  turned  tc  Lay.  It  was  now  my  turn,  so,  taking  them 


896  HUNTING  ADVENTUEES. 


coolly  right  and  left  with  my  little  rifle,  I  made  the  most  glorioui 
double  shot  that  a  sportsman's  heart  could  desire,  disabling  them 
both  in  the  shoulder  before  they  were  even  aware,  of  my  position. 
Then  snatching  my  other  gun  from  Carey,  who  that  moment  had 
ridden  up  to  my  assistance,  I  finished  the  first  lion  with  a  shot  about 
the  heart,  and  brought  the  second  to  a  standstill  by  disabling  him  in 
hia  hind  quarters.  He  quickly  crept  into  a  dense,  wide,  dark  green 
bush,  in  which  for  a  long  time  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  a  glimpse 
of  him.  At  length,  a  clod  of  earth  falling  near  his  hiding-place,  he 
made  a  move  which  disclosed  to  me  his  position,  when  I  finished  him 
with  three  more  shots,  all  along  the  middle  of  his  back.  Carey  swam 
across  the  river  to  flog  off  the  dogs ;  and  when  these  came  through 
to  me,  I  beat  up  the  peninsula  in  quest  of  the  fourth  lion,  which  had, 
however,  made  off.  We  then  crossed  the  river  a  little  higher  up, 
and  we  proceeded  to  inspect  the  noble  prizes  I  had  won.  Both  lions 
were  well  up  in  their  years ;  I  kept  the  skin  and  skull  of  the  finest 
specimen,  and  only  the  nails  and  tail  of  the  other,  one  of  whose  ca- 
nine teeth  was  worn  down  to  the  socket  with  caries,  which  seemed  to 
have  affected  his  general  condition.  On  the  9th  it  rained  throughout 
the  day,  converting  the  rich  soil  on  which  we  were  encamped  into 
one  mass  of  soft  sticky  clay.  In  the  forenoon,  fearing  the  rain  would 
render  the  vley  (through  which  we  must  pass  to  gain  the  firmer 
ground)  impassable,  I  ordered  my  men  to  prepare  to  march,  and  leave 
the  tent  with  its  contents  standing,  the  point  which  I  wished  to  gain 
being  distant  only  about  five  hundYed  yards.  When  the  oxen  were 
mspanned,  however,  and  we  attempted  to  move,  we  found  my  tackle, 
which  was  old,  so  rotten  from  the  effects  of  the  rain,  that  something 
gave  way  at  every  strain.  Owing  to  this  and  the  softness  of  the  vley, 
we  labored  on  till  sundown,  and  only  succeeded  in  bringing  one  wagon 
to  its  destination,  the  other  two  remaining  fast  in  the  mud  in  the 
middle  of  the  vley.  Next  morning,  luckily,  the  weather  cleared  up, 
when  my  men  brought  over  the  tent,  and  in  the  afternoon  the  other 
two  wagons. 

We  followed  up  the  banks  of  the  river  for  several  days  with  the 
usual  allowance  of  sport.  On  the  16th  we  came  suddenly  upon  an 
immense  old  bull  muchocho  rolling  in  mud.  He  sprang  to  his  feet 


HUNTING  LIONS.  397 


immediately  he  saw  me,  and,  charging  up  the  bank,  so  frightened  GUI 
horses,  that  before  I  could  get  my  rifle  from  my  after-rider  he  was. 
past  us  I  then  gave  him  chase ;  and  after  a  hard  gallop  of  about 
a  mile  I  sprang  from  my  horse  and  gave  him  a  good  shot  behind  the 
shoulder.  At  this  moment  a  cow  rhinocerous  of  the  same  species, 
with  her  calf,  charged  out  of  some  wait-a-bit  thorn-cover,  and  stood 
right  in  my  path.  Observing  that  she  carried  an  unusually  long  horn 
I  turned  my  attention  from  the  bull  to  her;  and  after  a  very  long 
and  severe  chase  I  dropped  her  at  the  sixth  shot.  I  carried  one  of 
my  rifles,  which  gave  me  much  trouble,  that  not  being  the  tool  required 
for  this  sort  of  work,  where  quick  loading  is  indispensable. 

After  breakfast  I  sent  men  to  cut  off  the  head  of  this  rhinoceros, 
and  proceeded  with  Ruyter  to  take  up  the  spoor  of  the  bull  wounded 
in  the  morning.  We  found  that  he  was  very  severely  hit,  and,  having 
followed  the  spoor  for  about  a  mile  through  very  dense  thorn-cover, 
he  suddenly  rustled  out  of  the  bushes  close  ahead  of  us,  accompanied 
by  a  whole  host  of  rhinoceros  birds.  I  mounted  my  horse  and  gave 
him  chase,  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  had  received  four  severe  shots 
I  managed  to  turn  his  course  towards  camp,  when  I  ceasetl  firing,  as 
ne  seemed  to  be  nearly  done  up,  and  Ruyter  and  I  rode  slowly  behind 
him,  occasionally  shouting  to  guide  his  course.  Presently,  however, 
Chukuroo  ceased  taking  any  notice  of  us,  and  held  leisurely  on  for 
the  river,  into  a  shallow  part  of  which  he  walked,  and  after  panting 
there  and  turning  about  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  he  fell  over  and 
expired.  This  was  a  remarkably  fine  old  bull,  and  from  his  dentition 
it  was  not  improbable  that  a  hundred  summers  had  seen  him  roaming 
as  a  peaceful  denizen  of  the  forests  and  open  glades  along  the  fair  banka 
of  the  secluded  Mariqua. 

During  our  march  on  the  19th  we  had  to  cross  a  range  of  very 
rocky  hills,  covered  with  large  loose  stones ;  and  all  hands  were  re- 
quired to  be  actively  employed  for  about  an  hour  in  clearing  them 
out  of  the  way  to  permit  the  wagons  to  pass.  The  work  went  on  fast 
and  furious,  and  the  quantity  of  stones  cleared  was  immense.  Wa 
had  now  reached  the  spot  where  we  were  obliged  to  bid  adieu  to  the 
Mariqua,  and  hold  a  westerly  course  across  **«  Country  for  Sichely 


398  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


At  sundown  we  halted  under  a  lofty  mountain,  the  highest  iu  the 
district,  called  "Lynche  a  Cheny,"  or  the  Monkey's  Mountain. 

Next  day  at  an  early  hour  I  rode  out  with  Ruyter  to  hunt;  my 
camp  being  entirely  without  flesh,  and  we  having  been  rationed  on 
very  tough  old  rhinoceros  for  several  days  past.  It  was  a  cloudy 
morning,  and  soon  after  starting  it  came  on  to  rain  heavily.  I,  how- 
ever, held  on,  skirting  a  fine  well-wooded  range  of  mountains,  ana 
after  riding  several  miles  I  shot  a  zebra.  Having  covered  the  carcass 
well  over  with  branches  to  protect  it  from  the  vultures,  I  returned  to 
camp,  and,  inspanning  my  wagons,  took  it  up  on  the  march.  We 
continued  trekking  on  until  sundown,  when  we  started  an  immense 
herd  of  buffaloes,  into  which  I  stalked  and  shot  a  huge  o*ld  bull. 

Our  march  this  evening  was  through  the  most  beautiful  country  I 
nad  ever  sjeen  in  Africa.  We  skirted  along  an  endless  range  of  well- 
wooded  stony  mountains  lying  on  our  left,  whilst  to  our  right  the 
country  at  first  sloped  gently  off,  and  then  stretched  away  into  a  level 
green  forest  (occasionally  interspersed  with  open  glades,)  boundless 
as  the  ocean.  This  green  forest  was,  however,  relieved  in  one  direction 
by  a  chain  'of  excessively  bold,  detached,  well-wooded,  rocky,  pyra- 
midal mountains,  which  stood  forth  in  grand  relief.  In  advance  the 
picture  was  bounded  by  forest  and  mountain ;  one  bold  acclivity,  in 
chape  a  dome,  standing  prominent  among  its  fellows.  It  was  a  lovely 
evening :  the  sky,  overcast  and  gloomy,  threw  an  interesting,  wild, 
mysterious  coloring  over  the  landscape.  I  gazed  forth  upon  the  ro- 
mantic scene  before  me  with  intense  delight,  and  felt  melancholy  and 
sorrowful  at  passing  so  fleetingly  through  it,  and  I  could  not  help 
shouting  out  as  I  marched  along,  "  Where  is  the  coward  who  would 
not  dare  to  die  for  such  a  land?" 

In  the  morning  we  held  for  a  fountain  some  miles  ahead  in  a  gorge 
in  the  mountains.  As  we  approached  the  fountain,  and  were  passing 
close  in  under  a  steep  rocky  hill  side,  well  wooded  to  its  summit,  I 
unexpectedly  beheld  a  lion  stealing  up  the  rocky  face,  and  halting 
behind  a  tree,  he  stood  overhauling  us  for  some  minutes.  I  re- 
solved to  give  him  battle,  and  seizing  my  rifle  marched  against  him, 
followed  by  Carey,  carrying  a  spare  gun,  and  by  three  men  leading 
my  dogs,  now  reduced  to  eight.  When  we  got  close  in  to  the  base 


HUNTING   LIONS.  401 


af  the  mountain,  we  found  ourselves  enveloped  in  dense  a  jungle, 
which  extended  half  way  to  its  summit,  and  entirely  obscured  from 
our  eyes  objects  which  were  quite  apparent  from  the  wagons.  I 
slipped  my  dogs,  however,  which,  after  snuffing  about,  took  righ 
up  the  steep  face  on  the  spoor  of  the  lions,  for  there  was  a  troop  of 
them — a  lion  and  four  lionesses. 

The  people  at  the  wagons  saw  the  chase  in  perfection.  When 
the  lions  observed  the  dogs  coming  on,  they  took  right  up,  and  three 
of  them  crossed  over  the  sky  ridge.  The  dogs,  however,  turned  one 
old  rattling  lioness,  which  came  rumbling  down  through  the  cover, 
close  past  me.  I  ran  to  meet  her,  and  she  came  to  bay  in  an  open  spot 
near  the  base  of  the  mountain,  whither  I  quickly  followed;  and 
coming  up  within  thirty  yards,  bowled  her  over  with  my  first  shot, 
which  broke  her  back.  My  second  entered  her  shoulder ;  and  fear- 
ing that  she  might  hurt  any  of  the  dogs,  as  she  still  evinced  signs 
of  life,  I  finished  her  with  a  third  in  the  breast.  The  bellies  of  all 
the  four  lions  were  much  distended  by  some  game  they  had  been 
gorging,  no  doubt  a  buffalo,  as  a  large  herd  started  out  of  the  jungle 
immediately  under  the  spot  where  the  noble  beasts  were  first 
disturbed. 

96 


CHAPTER  LXV. 

SOCTURNAL  ADVENTURE  WITH  SIX  LIONS 

content  with  encountering  four  lions  at  once,  Mr.  Onmmiig, 
on  a  certain  occasion,  gave  battle  to  six.  He  thus  describes  this 
adventure.  On  the  afternoon  of  th<»  4th,  I  deepened  my  hole  and 
watched  the  water.  As  the  sun  went  down  two  graceful  springboks 
and  a  herd  of  pallah  came  and  drank,  when  I  shot  the  best  pallah  in 
the  troop.  At  night  I  watched  the  water  with  Kleinboy :  very  soon 
a  cow  black  rhinoceros  came  and  drank,  and  got  off  for  the  present 
with  two  balls  in  her.  A  little  afterwards  two  black  rhinoceroses  and 
two  white  ones  came  to  the  water-side.  We  both  fired  together  at  the 
finest  of  the  two  black  rhinoceroses ;  she  ran  three  hundred  yards, 
and  fell  dead.  Soon  after  this  the  other  black  rhinoceros  came  up 
again  and  stood  at  the  water-side ;  I  gave  her  one  ball  after  the 
shoulder.;  she  ran  a  hundred  yards  and  fell  dead.  In  half  an  hour 
a  third  old  borele  appeared,  and,  having  inspected  the  two  dead  dues, 
he  came  up  to  the  water-side.  We  fired  together ;  he  ran  two  hun- 
dred yards  and  fell  dead.  I  felt  satisfied  with  our  success,  and  gave 
it  up  for  the  night. 

By  the  following  evening  the  natives  had  cleared  away  the  greater 
part  of  the  rhinoceroses  which  lay  right  in  the  way  of  the  game  ap- 
proaching the  water;  I,  however,  enforced  their  leaving  the  third 
rhinoceros,  which  had  fallen  on  the  bare  rising  ground,  almost  oppo- 
site my  hiding-place,  in  the  hope  of  attracting  a  lion,  as  I  intended 
to  watch  the  water  at  night.  Soon  after  the  twilight  had  died 
nway,  I  went  down  to  my  hole  with  Kleinboy  and  two  natives,  who 

(402) 


HUNTING  LIONS.  405 


lay  concealed  in  another  hole,  with  Wolf  and  Boxer  ready  to  slip, 
in  the  event  of  wounding  a  lion. 

On  reaching  the  water  I  looked  towards  the  carcass  of  the  rhino- 
ceros, and,  to  my  astonishment,  I  beheld  the  ground  alive  with 
large  creatures,  as  though  a  troop  of  zebras  were  approaching  the 
fountain  to  drink.  Kleinboy  remarked  to  me  that  a  troop  of  zebraa 
Were  standing  on  the  height.  I  answered,  "  Yes ;"  but  I  knew  very 
well  that  zebras  would  not  be  capering  around  the  carcass  of  a  rhj 
noceros.  I  quickly  arranged  my  blankets,  pillow,  and  guns  in  t>  j 
hole,  and  then. lay  down  to  feast  my  eyes  on  the  interesting  sight 
before  me.  It  was  bright  moonlight,  as  clear  as  I  need  wish,  and 
within  one  night  of  being  full  moon.  There  were  six  laqje  lions, 
about  twelve  or  fifteen  hyaenas,  and  from  twenty  to  thirty  jackals, 
feasting  on  and  around  the  carcasses  of  the  three  rhinoceroses.  The 
lions  feasted  peacefully,  but  the  hyaenas  and  jackals  fought  ovf1 
every  mouthful,  and  chased  one  another  round  and  round  the  car- 
casses, growling,  laughing,  screeching,  chattering,  and  howling  with- 
out intermission  The  hyaenas  did  not  seem  afraid  of  the  lions, 
although  they  always  gave  way  before  them ;  for  I  observed  that  they 
followed  them  in  the  most  disrespectful  manner,  and  stood  laughing, 
one  or  two  on  either  side,  when  any  lions  came  after  their  comrades 
to  examine  pieces  of  skin  or  bones  which  they  were  dragging  away. 
I  had  lain  watching  this  banquet  for  about  three  hours,  in  the  strong 
hope  that,  when  the  lions  had  feasted,  they  would  come  and  drink. 
Two  black  and  two  white  rhinoceroses  had  made  their  appearance, 
but,  scared  by  the  smell  of  the  blood,  they  had  made  off. 

At  length  the  lions  seemed  satisfied.  They  all  walked  about  with 
their  heads  up,  and  seemed  to  be  thinking  about  the  water  ;  and  in 
two  minutes  one  of  them  turne  JL  his  face  towards  me,  and  came  on  j 
he  was  immediately  followed  by  a  second  lion,  and  in  half  a  minute 
by  the  remaining  four.  It  was  a  decided  and  general  move,  they 
were  all  coming  to  drink  right  bang  in  my  face,  within  fifteen  yarda 
of  me. 

I  charged  the  unfortunate,  pale,  and  panting  Kleinboy'  to  convert 
himself  into  a  stone,  and  knowing,  from  old  spoor,  exactly  where 
they  would  drink,  I  cocked  my  left  barrel,  and  placed  myself  and 


406  HUNTING  ADVENTUKES. 


gun  in  position.  The  six  lions  came  steadily  on  along  the  stony 
ridge,  until  within  sixty  yards  of  me,  when  they  halted  for  a  minute 
to  reconnoitre.  One  of  them  stretched  out  his  massive  arms  on  the 
rock  and  lay  down ;  the  others  then  came  on,  and  he  rose  and  brought 
up  the  rear.  They  walked,  as  I  had  anticipated,  to  the  old  drink- 
ing-place,  and  three  of  them  had  put  down  their  heads  and  were 
lapping  the  water  loudly,  when  Kleinboy  thought  it  necessary  to 
shove  up  his  ugly  head.  I  turned  my  head  slowly  to  rebuke  him, 
and  again  turning  to  the  lions  I  found  myself  discovered. 

An  old  lioness,  who  seemed  to  take  the  lead,  had  detected  me, 
and  with  her  head  high,  and  her  eyes  fixed  full  upon  me,  she  was 
coming  slowly  round  the  corner  of  the  little  vley  to  cultivate  further 
my  acquaintance.  This  unfortunate  proceeding  put  a  stop  at  once 
to  all  further  contemplation.  I  thought,  in  my  haste,  that  it  was 
perhaps  most  prudent  to  shoot  this  lioness,  especially  as  none  of  the 
others  had  noticed  me.  I  accordingly  moved  my  arm  and  covered 
her ;  she  saw  me  move  and  halted,  exposing  a  full  broadside.  I 
fired ;  the  ball  entered  one  shoulder  and  passed  out  behind  the  other. 
She  then  bounded  forward  with  repeated  growls,  and  was  followed 
by  her  five  comrades  all  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  dust;  nor  did  they 
stop  until  they  had  reached  the  cover  behind  me,  except  one  old  gen 
tleman,  who  halted  and  looked  back  for  a  few  seconds,  when  I  fired, 
but  the  ball  went  high.  I  listened  anxiously  for  some  sound  to  de- 
note the  approaching  end  of  the  lioness;  nor  listened  in  vain.  I 
heard  her  growling  and  stationary,  as  if  dying.  In  one  minute  her 
comrades  crossed  the  vley  a  little  below  me,  and  made  towards  the 
rhinoceros.  I  then  slipped  Wolf  and  Boxer  on  her  scent,  and  fol- 
lowing them  into  the  cover,  I  found  her  lying  dead  within  twimty 
yards  of  where  the  old  lion  had  lain  two  nights  before;  This  \ras  a 
fine  old  lioness,  with  perfect  teeth,  and  was  certainly  a  noble  prize ; 
but  I  felt  dissatisfied  at  not  having  rather  shot  a  lion,  which  I  had 
most  certainly  done  if  my  Hottentot  had  not  unfortunately  destroyed 
HT  contemplation. 


CHAPTER  LXVI. 

A  HARD   CHASE   OF  AN   ELEPHANT. 

THE  following  narrative  of  an  encounter  with  an  elephant,  is  one 
cf  the  most  interesting  of  Mr.  Cumming's  adventures  in  South 
Africa.  It  occurs  at  the  beginning  of  his  second  volume,  as  follows : 
I  remained  at  Sabie,  hunting  elephant  and  rhinoceros  with  success, 
till  the  morning  of  the  22nd  of  August,  when  I  inspanned,  and 
marched  for  Mangmaluky,  which  we  reached  at  sundown,  when  I 
drew  up  my  wagons  in  an  open  grassy  glade  on  a  rather  elevated 
position,  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  bold  outline  of  the  surround 
ing  mountains.  Oh  the  march  I  shot  a  white  rhinoceros  in  the  act 
of  charging  down  a.  rocky  face,  with  all  the  dogs  in  full  pursuit  of 
him.  The  ball  disabled  him  in  the  shoulder,  when,  pitching  upon 
his  head,  he  described  the  most  tremendous  somersault,  coming 
down  among  the  stones  and  bushes  with  the  overwhelming  violence 
of  an  avalanche. 

On  the  27th  I  cast  loose  my  horses  at  earliest  dawn  of  day,  and 
then  lay  half  asleep  for  two  hours,  when  I  arose  to  consume  coffee 
and  rhinoceros.  Having  breakfasted,  I  started  with  a  party  of  na- 
tives to  search  for  elephants  in  a  southerly  direction.  We  held 
along  the  gravelly  bed  of  a  periodical  river,  in  which  were  abund- 
ince  of  holes  excavated  by  the  elephants  in  quest  of  water.  Here 
the  spoor  of  the  rhinoceros  was  extremely  plentiful,  and  in  every 
hole  where  they  had  drunk  the  print  of  the  horn  was  visible.  We 
soon  found  the  spoor  of  an  old  bull  elephant,  which  led  us  into  a 
iense  forest,  where  the  ground  was  particularly  unfavorable  fof 

(409) 


410  IMJMING    ADVENTURES. 


spooring ;  we,  however,  threaded  it  out  for  a  considerable  distance, 
when  it  joined  the  spoor  of  other  bulls.  The  natives  now  requested 
rae  to  halt,  while  men  went  off  in  different  directions  to  reconnoitre. 

In  the  mean  time  a  tremenduous  conflagration  was  roaring  and 
crackling  close  to  windward  of  us.  It  was  caused  by  the  Bakalahari 
burning  the  old  dry'grass  to  enable  the  young  to  spring  up  with 
greater  facility,  whereby  they  retained  the  game  within  their  domi- 
nions. The  fire  stretched  away  for  many  miles  on  either  side  of  us 
darkening  the  forest  far  to  leeward  with  a  dense  and  impenetrable 
canopy  of  smoke.  Here  we  remained  for  about  half  an  hour,  when 
one  of  the  men  returned,  reporting  that  he  had  discovered  elephants. 
This  I  could  scarcely  credit,  for  I  fancied  that  the  extensive  fire 
which  raged  so  fearfully  must  have  driven,  not  only  elephants,  but 
every  living  creature  out  of  the  district.  The  native,  however,  pointed 
to  his  eye,  repeating  the  word  "  Klow,"  and  signed  to  me  to  follow 
him.  My  guide  led  me  about  a  mile  through  dense  forest,  when  wo 
reached  a  little  well  wooded  hill,  to  whose  summit  we  ascended,  whence 
a  view  might  have  been  obtained  of  the  surrounding  country,  had 
not  volumes  of  smoke  obscured  the  scenery  far  and  wide,  as  though 
issuing  from  the  funnels  of  a  thousand  steamboats.  Here,  to  my  as- 
tonishment, my  guide  halted,  and  pointed  to  the  thicket  close  beneath 
me,  when  I  instantly  perceived  the  collossal  backs  of  a  herd  of  bull 
elephants.  There  they  stood  quietly  browsing  on  the  lee  side  of  tho 
hill,  while  the  fire  in  its  might  was  raging  to  windward  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  them. 

I  directed  Johannus  to  choose  an  elephant,  and  promised  to  reward 
him  should  he  prove  successful.  Galloping  furiously  down  the  hill, 
I  started  the  elephants  with  an  unearthly  yell,  and  instantly  selected 
the  finest  in  the  herd.  Placing  myself  alongside,  I  fired  both  barrels 
behind  the  shoulder,  when  he  instantly  turned  upon  rae,  and  in  his 
impetuous  career  charged  head  foremost  against  a  large  bushy  tree, 
which  he  sent  flying  before  him  high  in  the  air  with  tremenduous 
force,  coming  down  at  the  same  moment  violently  on  his  knees.  He 
then  met  the  raging  fire,  when,  altering  his  course,  he  wheeled  to 
the  right-about.  As  I  galloped  after  him  I  perceived  another  noble 
elephant  meeting  us  in  an  opposite  direction,  and  presently  the  gallant 


HUNTING  THE  ELEPHANT.  411 


Joliannus  hove  in  sight,  following  his  quarry  at  a  respectful  distance. 
Both  elephants  held  on  together,  so  I  shouted  to  Johannus,  "I  will 
give  your  elephant  a  shot  in  the  shoulder,  and  you  must  try  to  finish 
him."  Spurring  my  horse,  I  rode  close  alongside,  and  gave  the  fresh 
elephant  two  shots  immediately  behind  the  shoulder,  when  he  parted 
from  mine,  Johannus  following;  but  before  many  minutes  had  elapsed 
that  mighty  N-imrod  re-appeared,  having  fired  one  shot  and  lost  his 
prey. 

In  the  mean  time  I  was  loading  and  firing  as  fast  as  could  be,  some- 
times at  the  head,  and  sometimes  behind  the  shoulder,  until  my  ele- 
phant's fore-quarters  were  a  mass  of  gore,  notwithstanding  which  he 
continued  to  hold  stoutly  on,  leaving  the  grass  and  branches  of  the 
forest  scarlet  in  his  wake. 

On  one  occasion  he  endeavored  to  escape  by  charging  desperately 
amid  the  thickest  of  the  flames ;  but  this  did  not  avail,  and  I  wan 
soon  once  more  alongside.  I  blazed  away  at  this  elephant,  until  ] 
began  to  think  that  he  was  proof  against  my  weapons.  Having  fired 
thirty-five  rounds  with  my  two-grooved  rifle,  I  opened  fire  upon  him 
with  the  Dutch  six-pounder;  and  when  forty  bullets  had  perforated 
his  hide,  he  began  for  the  first  time  to  evince  signs  of  a  dilapidated 
constitution.  He  took  up  a  position  in  a  grove ;  and  as  the  dogs 
kept  barking  round  him,  he  backed  stern  foremost  among  the  trees, 
which  yielded  before  his  gigantic  strength.  Poor  old  fellow  !  he  had 
long  braved  my  deadly  shafts,  but  I  plainly  saw  that  it  was  now  all 
over  with  him ;  so  I  resolved  to  expend  no  further  ammunition,  but. 
hold  him  in  view  until  he  died.  Throughout  the  chase  this  elephant 
repeatedly  cooled  his  person  with  large  quantities  of  water,  which  he 
ejected  from  his  trunk  over  his  back  and  sides  ;  and  just  as  the  pangs 
of  death  came  over  him,  he  stood  trembling  violently  beside  a  thorny 
tree,  and  kept  pouring  water  into  his  bloody,  mouth  until  he  died, 
when  he  pitched  heavily  forward,  with  the  whole  weight  of  his  fore- 
quarters  resting  on  the  points  of  his  tusks. 

A  most  singular  occurrence  now  took  place.  *  He  lay  in  this  pos- 
ture for  several  seconds,  but  the  amazing  pressure  of  the  carcass  was 
more  than  the  head  was  able  to  support.  He  had  fallen  with  hii 
head  so  short  under  him  that  the  tusks  received  little  assistance  from 


412 


HUNTING   AD\7ENTURES. 


his  legs.  Something  must  give  way.  The  strain  an  the  mighty 
tusks  was  fuirj  they  did  not,  therefore,  yield;  but  the  portion  of  his 
head  in  which  the  tusk  was  imbedded,  extending  a  long  way  above 
the  eye,  yielded  and  burst  with  a  muffled  crash.  The  tusk  was  thus 
free,  and  turned  right  round  in  his  head,  so  that  a  man  could  draw 
it  out,  and  the  carcass  fell  over  and  rested  on  its  side.  This  was  a 
very  first-rate  elephant,  and  the  tusks  he. carried  were  long  and 
perfect. 


A   KAFFIR. 


CHAPTER  LXVII. 

RIDING   OUT   THE   BULL   ELEPHANT. 

ME..  GUMMING  used  to  ride  fearlessly  into  a  herd  of  elephants, 
]mrsu3  them  through  the  forests,  select  the  largest  and  finest  male, 
and  shoot  him.  This  he  calls  riding  out  the  best  bull  elephant. 
He  thus  describes  an  affair  of  this  kind.  The  country  now  before 
me  was  a  vast  level  forest,  extending  to  the  north  and  east  for  about 
twenty  miles  without  a  break.  At  that  distance,  however,  the  land- 
scape was  shut  in  by  blue  mountain  ranges  of  considerable  height, 
and  two  bold  conical  mountains  standing  close  together  rose  con- 
spicuous above  the  rest.  These  mountains,  the  Bamangwato  men 
informed  me  were  their  ancient  habitation,  and  that  of  their  fore- 
fathers, but  the  cruel  Matabili  had  driven  them  from  thence  to  the 
rocky  mountains  which  they  now  occupy.  We  continued  our  course 
in  an  easterly  direction,  and  twice  crossed  the  gravelly  bed  of  a 
periodical  river,  in  which  were  several  small  springs  of  excellent 
water.  These  springs  had  been  exposed  by  elephants,  which  had 
cleared  away  the  gravel  with  their  trunks.  Around  these  springs, 
the  spoor  of  the  rhinoceros  was  abundant.  After  proceeding  several 
miles  through  a  dry  and  barren  tract,  where  wait-a-bit  thorns  pre- 
vailed, we  entered  upon  more  interesting  ground.  The  forest  was 
adorned  with  very  picturesque  oM  trees  of  various  sorts  and  sizes, 
which  stood  singly  and  in  shady  groups,  while  the  main  body  of  the 
forest  consist-'d  of  a  variety  of  trees  of  other  sorts,  averaging  the 
height  of  a  g.;  affe.  The  elephants  had  left  abundant  traces  of  their 
presence,  but  ill  their  marks  were  old.  Fresh  spoor  of  giraffe  was* 


414  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


imprinted  on  the  ground  on  every  side,  and  we  presently  saw  a 
large  herd  of  these,  standing  scattered,  through  the  forest  to  our  left. 
They  were  glorious  fellows,  but  I  was  now  in  pursuit  of  nobler  game  : 
the  natives  were  leading  me  to  some  distant  fountain,  where  they 
expected  we  should  discover  spoor. 

On  we  sped  through  the  depths  of  the  forest,  our  view  being  con- 
fined to  about  fifty  yards  on  every  side.  Presently  emerging  upon 
n  small  open  glade,  I  observed  a  herd  of  brindled  gnoos  and  two  or 
three  troops  of  pallahs;  and  soon  after,  a  second  herd  of  about  fifteen 
camelopards  stood  browsing  before  us,  and,  getting  our  wind,  dashed 
away  to  our  left.  We  had  proceeded  about  two  miles  further,  and 
it  was  now  within  two  hours  of  sunset,  when,  lo  !  a  thorny  tree  newly 
smashed  by  an  elephant.  Some  of  the  natives  Attentively  examined 
the  leaves  of  the  broken  branches  to  ascertain  exactly  when  he  had 
been  there,  while  some  for  the  same  purpose  overhauled  the  spoor 
It  was  the  spoor  of  a  first-rate  bull :  he  had  fed  there  that  morning 
at  the  dawn  of  day.  The  ground  was  hard  and  bad  for  spooring,  but 
the  natives  evinced  great  skill,  and,  following  it  for  a  short  distance, 
we  came  to  ground  were  a  troop  of  bull  elephants  had  pastured  not 
many  hours  before.  Here  the  thorny  trees  on  every  side  were  de- 
molished by  them,  and  huge  branches  and  entire  trees  were  rent  and 
uprooted,  and  lay  scattered  across  our  path,  having  been  carried  seve- 
ral yards  in  the  trunks  of  the  elephants  before  they  stood  to  eat  the 
leaves  :  the  ground  also  was  here  and  there  ploughed  up  by  their  tusks 
in  quest  of  roots ;  and  in  these  places  the  enormous  fresh  spoor — 
that  thrilling  sight  to  a  hunter's  eye- — was  beautifully  visible. 

All  this  was  extremely  interesting  and  gratifying;  but  I  had  been 
BO  often  disappointed,  and  it  was  now  so  very  near  sunset,  that  I  en- 
tertained but  faint  hopes  of  finding  them  that  evening.  Mutchuisho 
was  very  anxious  that  I  should  see  the  elephants ;  he  had  divested 
himself  of  his  kaross,  and,  carrying  one  of  the  muskets  which  Sicomy 
had  bought  from  me,  he  led  the  spooring  party,  consisting  of  about 
fifteen  cunning  old  hands.  The  great  body  of  the  men  he  had  ordered 
to  sit  down  and  remain  quiet  until  the  attack  commenced.  Having 
followed  the  spoor  for  a  short  distance,  old  Mutchuisho  became  ex- 
tremely excited,  and  told  me  that  we  were  near  the  elephants.  A 


HUNTING  ELEPHANTS  411 


few  miuutes  after  several  of  the  spoorers  affirmed  that  they  had  heard 
the  elephants  break  a  tree  in  advance ;  they  differed,  however,  about 
the  direction,  some  saying  it  was  in  front,  and  others  that  it  was  away 
to  our  left.  Two  or  three  men  quickly  ascended  the  tallest  trees 
that  stood  near  us,  but  they  could  not  see  the  elephants.  Mutchui- 
sho  then  extended  men  to  the  right  and  left,  while  we  continued  on 
the  spoor. 

In  a  few  minutes  one  of  those  who  had  gone  off  to  our  left  came 
running  breathless  to  say  that  he  had  seen  the  mighty  game.  I  halted, 
for  a  minute,  and  instructed  Isaac,  who  carried  the  big  Dutch  rifle, 
to  act  independently  of  me,  while  Kleinboy  was  to  assist  me  in  the 
chase ;  but,  as  usual,  when  the  row  began,  my  followers  thought  only 
of  number  one.  I  bared  my  arms  to  the  shoulder,  and,  having  im- 
bibed a  draught  of  aqua  pura  from  the  calabash  of  one  of  the  spoorers, 
I  grasped  my  trusty  two-grooved  rifle,  and  told  my  guide  to  go  ahead. 
We  proceeded  silently  as  might  be  for  a  few  hundred  yards.,  following 
the  guide,  when  he  suddenly  pointed,  exclaiming,  "  Klow  !"  and  be- 
fore us  stood  a  herd  of  mighty  bull  elephants,  packed  together  be- 
neath a  shady  grove  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  advance.  I 
rode  slowly  toward  them,  and,  as  soon  as  they  observed  me,  they 
made  a  loud  rumbling  noise,  and,  tossing  their  trunks,  wheeled  right 
about  and  made  off  in  one  direction,  crashing  through  the  forest  and 
leaving  a  cloud  of  dust  behind  them.  I  was  accompanied  by  a  de- 
tachment of  my  dogs,  who  assisted  me  in  the  pursuit. 

The  distance  I  had  come,  and  the  difficulties  I  had  undergone,  to 
behold  these  elephants,  rose  fresh  before  me.  I  determined  that  on 
this  occasion  at  least  I  would  do  my  duty,  and,  dashing  my  spurs  into 
"  Sunday's"  ribs,  I  was  very  soon  too  close  in  their  rear  for  safety. 
The  elephants'now  made  an  inclination  to  my  left,  whereby  I  obtained 
a  good  view  of  the  ivory.  The  herd  consisted  of  six  bulls;  four  of 
them  were  full-grown,  first-rate  elephants;  che  other  two  were  fine 
fellows,  but  had  not  yet  arrived  at  perfect  stature.  Of  the  four  old 
fellows,  two  had  much  finer  tusks  than  the  rest,  and  for  a  few  seconds 
I  was  undecided  which  of  these  two  I  would  follow ;  when,  suddenly 
the  one  which  I  fancied  had  the  stoutest  tusks  broke  from  his  com- 
rades, and  I  at  once  felt  convinced  that  he  was  the  patriarch  of  the 

27 


418  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


herd,  and  followed  him  accordingly.  Cantering  alongside,  1  wan 
about  to  fire,  when  he  instantly  turned,  and,  uttering  a  trumpet  so 
strong  and  shrill  that  the  earth  seemed  to  vibrate  beneath  my  feet, 
b*  charged  furiously  after  me  for  several  hundred  yards  in  a  direct 
line,  not  altering  his  course  in  the  slightest  degree  for  the  trees  of 
the  forest,  which  he  snapped  and  overthrew  like  reeds  in  his  headlong 
career. 

When  he  pulled  up  in  his  charge,  I  also  halted ;  and  as  he  slowly 
turned  to  retreat,  I  let  fly  at  his  shoulder,  "  Sunday"  capering  and 
prancing,  and  giving  me  much  trouble.  On  receiving  the  ball  the 
elephant  shrugged  his  shoulder,  and  made  off  at  a  free  majestic  walk. 
This  shot  brought  several  of  the  dogs  to  my  assistance  which  had 
been  following  the  other  elephants,  and  on  their  coming  up  and 
barking  another  headlong  charge  was  the  result,  accompanied  by  the 
never-failing  trumpet  as  before.  In  his  charge  he  passed  close  to  me, 
when  I  saluted  him  with  a  second  bullet  in  the  shoulder,  of  which 
he  did  not  take  the  slightest  notice.  I  now  determined  not  to  fire 
again  until  I  could  make  a  steady  shot;  but,  although  the  elephant 
turned  repeatedly,  "  Sunday"  invariably  disappointed  me,  capering 
so  that  it  was  impossible  to  fire. 

At  length,  exasperated,  I  became  reckless  of  the  danger,  and, 
springing  from  the  saddle,  approached  the  elephant  under  cover  of 
a  tree,  and  gave  him  a  bullet  in  the  side  of  the  head,  when,  trum- 
peting so  shrilly  that  the  forest  trembled,  he  charged  among  the 
dogs,  from  whom  he  seemed  to  fancy  that  the  blow  had  come ;  after 
which  he  took  up  a  position  in  a  grove  of  thorns,  with  his  head  to- 
wards me.  I  walked  up  very  near,  and,  as  he  was  in  the  act  of 
charging  (being  in  those  days  under  wrong  impressions  as  to  the  im- 
practicability of  bringing  down  an  elephant  with  a  shot  in  the  fore- 
head,) stood  coolly  in  his  path  until  he  was  within  fifteec  paces  of 
me,  and  let  drive  at  the  hollow  of  his  forehead,  in  the  vain  expecta- 
tion that  by  so  doing  I  should  end  his  career.  The  shot  only  served 
to  increase  his  fury — an  effect  which,  I  had  remarked,  shots  in  the 
head  invariably  produced;  and,  continuing  his  charge  with  incredible 
quickness  and  impetuosity,  he  all  but  terminated  my  elephant-hunting 
for  ever.  A  large  party  of  the  Bechuanas  who  had  come  up  yelled 


HUNTING  ELEPHANTS.  4i9 


out  Bimultaneously,  imagining  I  was  killed,  for  tAi  elephant  was  at 
one  moment  almost  on  the  top  of  me :  I,  however/  escaped  by  my 
activity,  and  by  dodging  round  the  bushy  trees.  As  the  elephant 
was  charging,  an  enormous  thorn  ran  deep  into  the  sole  of  my  foot, 
the  old  Badenoch  brogues,  which  I  that  day  sported,  being  worn 
through ;  and  caused  me  severe  pain,  laming  me  throughout  the  rest 
of  the  conflict. 

The  elephant  held  on  through  the  forest  at  a  sweeping  pace ;  but 
he  was  hardly  out  of  sight  when  I  was  loaded  and  in  the  saddle,  and 
goon  once  more  alongside.  About  this  time  I  heard  Isaac  blazing 
away  at  another  bull ;  but  when  the  elephant  charged,  his  cowardly 
heart  failed  him,  and  he  very  soon  made  his  appearance  at  a  safe 
distance  in  my  rear.  Mj  elephant  kept  crashing  along  at  a  steady 
pace,  with  blood  streaming  from  his  wounds;  the  dogs,  which  were 
knocked  up  with  fatigue  and  thirst,  no  longer  barked  around  him, 
but  had  dropped  astern.  It  was  long  before  I  again  fired,  for  I  was 
afraid  to  dismount,  and  "  Sunday"  was  extremely  troublesome.  At 
length  I  fired  sharp  right  and  left^  from  the  saddle ;  he  got  both 
balls  behind  the  shoulder  and  made  a  long  charge  after  me,  rum- 
bling and  trumpeting  as  before.  The  whole  body  of  the  Bamang- 
wato  men  had  now  come  up,  and  were  following  a  short  distance  be- 
hind me.  Among  these  was  Mollyeon,  who  volunteered  to  help ;  and 
being  a  very  swift  and  active  fellow,  he  rendered  me  important  ser- 
vice by  holding  my  fidgety  horse's  head  while  I  fired  and  loaded.  I 
then  fired  six  broadsides  from  the  saddle,  the  elephant  charging  almost 
every  time,  and  pursuing  us  back  to  the  main  body  in  our  rear, 
who  fled  in  all  directions  as  he  approached. 

The  sun  had  now  sunk  behind  the  tops  of  the  trees ;  it  would 
very  soon  be  dark,  and  the  elephant  did  not  seem  much  distressed, 
notwithstanding  all  he  had  received.  I  recollected  that  my  time 
was  short,  therefore  at  once  rcsolvad  to  fire  no  more  from  the  saddle, 
but  to  go  close  up  to  him  and  fire  oj\  foot.  Riding  up  to  him  I  dis- 
mounted, and,  approaching  very  near,  I  gave  it  him  right  and  left 
in  the  side  of  the  head,  upon  which  he  made  a  long  and  determined 
charge  after  me ;  but  I  was  now  very  reckless  of  his  charges,  for  I  saw 
that  he  could  not  overtake  me,  and  in  a  twinkling  I  was  loaded, 


420  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


and,  again  approaching,  I  fired  sharp  right  and  left  behind  his 
shoulder.  Again  he  charged  with  a  terrific  trumpet,  which  sent 
"  Sunday"  flying  through  the  forest.  This  was  his  last  charge.  The 
wounds  which  he  had  received  began  to  tell  on  his  constitution,  and 
he  now  stood  at  bay  beside  a  thorny  tree,  with  the  dogs  barking 
around  him.  These,  refreshed  by  the  evening  breeze,  and  perceiv- 
ing that  it  was  nearly  over  with  the  elephant,  had  once  more  come 
to  my  assistance.  Having  loaded,  I  drew  near  and  fired  right  and 
left  at  his  forehead.  On  receiving  these  shots,  instead  of  charging 
he  tossed  his  trunk  up  and  down,  and  by  various  sounds  and  motions, 
most  gratifying  to  the  hungry  natives,  evinced  that  his  demise  was 
near.  Again  I  loaded,  and  fired  my  last  shot  behind  his  shoulder; 
on  received  it,  he  turned  round  the  bushy  tree  beside  which  he 
stood,  and  I  ran  round  to  give  him  the  other  barrel,  but  the  mighty 
old  monarch  of  the  forest  needed  no  more ;  before  I  could  clear  the 
bushy  tree  he  fell  heavily  on  his  side,  and  his  spirit  had  fled.  My 
feelings  at  this  moment  can  only  be  understood  by  a  few  brothel 
Nimrods,  who  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  enjoy  a  similar  encounter. 
I  neve  felt  so  gratified  on  any  former  occasion  as  I  did  then. 


CHAPTER  LXVIII. 

A    M.ODERN    PUTNAM. 

THE  following  is  an  account  of  an  adventure  which  occurred  t< 
Frank  Forrester,  in  America.  A  large  bear  was  traced  to  a  cavern 
in  the  Round  Mountain,  and  every  effort  made  for  three  days  with 
out  success  to  smoke  or  burn  him  out.  At  length  a  bold  hunter, 
familiar  with  the  spot,  volunteered  to  beard  the  bear  in  his  den.  The 
well-aperture,  which,  alone  could  be  seen  from  without,  descended 
for  about  eight  feet,  then  turned  off  at  right  angles,  running  nearly 
horizontally  for  about  six  feet,  beyond  which  it  opened  into  a  small 
circular  chamber,  where  the  bear  had  taken  up  his  quarters.  The 
man  determined  to  descend,  to  worm  himself,  feet  forward,  on  liis 
back,  and  to  shoot  at  the  eyes  of  the  bear,  as  they  would  be  visible 
in  the  dark.  Two  narrow  laths  of  pine  wood  were  accordingly  pro- 
cured, and  pierced  with  holes  in  which  candles  were  placed  and  lighted. 
A  rope  was  next  made  fast  about  his  chest,  a  butcher's  knife  disposed 
in  readiness  for  his  grasp,  and  his  musket  loaded  with  two  good  ounce 
bullets,  well  wrapped  in  greased  buckskin.  Gradually  he  disappeared 
thrusting  the  lights  before  him  with  his  feet,  and  holding  the  musket 
ready  cocked  in  his  hand.  A  few  anxious  moments — a  low  stifled 
growl  was  heard — then  a  loud,  bellowing,  crashing  report,  followed 
by  a  loud  and 'fearful  howl,  half  anguish,  half  furious  rage.  The 
men  above  wildly  and  eagerly  hauled  up  the  rope,  and  the  sturdy 
hunter  was  whirled  into  the  ah  uninjured,  and  retaining  in  his  grasp 
his  good  weapon;  while  the  fierce  brute  rushed  tearing  after  him 
sven  to  the  cavern's  mouth.  As  soon  as  the  man  had  entered  the 

(423) 


424  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


small  chamber,  he  perceived  the  glaring  eyeballs  of  the  bear,  had 
taken  steady  aim,  at  them,  and  had,  he  believed,  lodged. his  bullets 
fairly,  Painful  moanings  were  soon  heard  from  within,  and  then  all 
was  still!  Again  the  bold  man  determined  to  seek  the  monster; 
again  he  vanished,  and  his  musket  shot  roared  from  the  recesses  of 
the  rock.  Up  he  was  whirled;  but  this  time,  the  bear,  streaming 
with  gore,  and  furious  with  pain,  rushed  after  him,  and  with  a  mighty 
bound,  cleared  the  confines  of  the  cavern !  A  hasty  and  harmless 
volley  was  fired,  while  the  bear  glared  around  as  if  undecided  upon 
which  of  the  group  to  wreak  his  vengeance.  Tom,  the  hunter,  coolly 
raised  his  piece,  but  snap  !  no  spark  followed  the  blow  of  the  hammer  '- 
With  a  curse  Tom  threw  down  the  musket,  and,  drawing  his  knife, 
rushed  forward  to  encounter  the  bear  single  handed.  What  would 
have  been  his  fate  had  the  bear  folded  him  in  his  deadly  hug,  we 
may  be  pretty  sure ;  but  ere  this  could  happen,  the  four  bullets  did 
their  work,  and  he  fell ;  a  convulsive  shudder  passed  through  his 
frame,  and  all  was  still.  Six  hundred  odd  pounds  did  he  weigh,  and 
great  were  the  rejoicings  at  his  destruction. 


CHAPTER  LXIX. 

A  LION  HUNT  ON  THE  RIVER  MARIQUA. 

WE  trekked  up  along  the  banks  of  the  river  for  the  llariqua, 
says  Mr.  Gumming,  and  a  little  before  sundown  fell  in  with  two 
enormous  herds  of  buffaloes,  one  of  which,  consisted  chiefly  of  bulls, 
stood  under  the  shady  trees  on  one  side  of  the  bank,  whilst  the 
other,  composed  chiefly  of  cows  and  calves,  stood  on  the  opposite 
side,  a  little  higher  up  the  river.  In  all  there  were  at  least  three 
hundred.  Thinking  it  probable  that  if  I  hunted  them  1  might  kill 
some  old  bull  with  a  head  perhaps  worthy  of  my  collection,  I  ordere," 
my  men  to  outspan,  and  having  saddled  steeds,  I  gave  chase  to  the 
herd  of  bulls,  accompanied  by  Booi  and  my  dogs.  After  a  short 
burst  they  took  through  the  river,  where  I  lost  sight  of  an  old  bull 
which  carried  the  finest  head  in  the  herd.  My  dogs,  however, 
brought  a  cow  to  bay  as  they  crossed  the  river,  which  I  shot  stand- 
ing in  the  water,  but  not  before  she  had  killed  a  particularly  favo- 
rite bull  dog,  named  Pompey.  I  then  continued  the  chase,  and 
again  came  up  with  the  herd,  which  was  now  considerably  scattered ; 
and  after  a  sharp  chase,  part  of  which  was  through  thick  wait-a-bit 
thorn  cover,  I  brought  eight  or  nine  fine  old  bulls  to  bay  in  lofty 
reeds  at  the  river's  margin,  exactly  opposite  to  my  camp;  of  these 
I  singled  out  the  two  best  heads,  one  of  which  I  shot  with  five  balls, 
and  wounded  the  other  badly,  but  he  made  off  while  I  was  engaged 
with  his  comrade. 

In  the  morning  I  instructed  four  of  my  people  to  cross  the  river, 
rj  '  bring  ove4  a  supply  of  buffalo  beef.  These  men  were  very  re« 

(427) 


428  HUNTING  ADVENTURES^ 


luctant  to  go,  fearing  a  lion  might  have  taken  possession  of  the  carcass 
On  proceeding  to  reconnoitre  from  our  side,  they  beheld  the  majcstia 
beast  they  dreaded  walk  slowly  up  the  opposite  bank  from  the  dead 
buffalo,  and  take  up  a  position  on  the  top  of  the  bank  under  some 
shady  thorn-trees.  I  resolved  to  give  him  battle,  and  rode  forth 
with  my  double-barrelled  Westley  Richards  rifle,  followed  by  men 
leading  the  dogs.  Present,  who  was  one  of  the  party,  carried  his 
"  roer,"  no  doubt  to  perform  wonders.  The  wind  blew  up  the 
river ;  I  accordingly  held  up  to  seek  a  drift,  and  crossed  a  short  dis- 
tance above  where  the  buffalo  lay.  As  we  drew  near  the  spot,  I  ob- 
served the  lion  sitting  on  the  top  of  the  bank,  exactly  where  he  had 
been  seen  by  my  people.  On  my  right,  and  within  two  hundred  yards 
of  me,  was  a  very  extensive  troop  of  pallahs,  which  antelope  invari- 
'ably  manages  to  be  in  the  way  when  it  is  not  at  all  wanted.  OR 
this  occasion,  however,  I  succeeded  in  preventing  my  dogs  from  ob- 
serving them.  When  the  lion  saw  us  coming,  he  overhauled  us  for 
a  moment,  and  then  slunk  down  the  bank  for  concealment;  bein£ 
well  to  leeward  of  him,  I  ordered  my  dogs  to  be  slipped,  and  galloped 
forward. 

On  finding  that  he  was  attacked,  the  lion  at  first  made  a  most  de- 
termined bolt  for  it,  followed  by  all  the  dogs  at  a  racing  pace;  and 
when  they  came  up  with  him  he  would  not  bay,  but  continued  his 
course  down  the  bank  of  the  river,  keeping  close  in  beside  the  reeds, 
growling  terribly  at  the  dogs,  which  kept  up  an  incessant  angry  bark- 
ing. The  bank  of  the  river  was  intersected  by  deep  water-courses, 
and,  the  ground  being  extremely  slippery  from  the  rain  which  had 
fallen  during  the  night,  I  was  unable  to  overtake  him  until  he  came 
to  bay  in  a  patch  of  lofty  dense  reeds  which  grew  on  the  lower  bank, 
immediately  adjacent  to  the  river's  margin.  I  had  brought  out  eleven 
of  my  dogs,  and  before  1  could  come  up  three  of  them  were  killed. 
On  reaching  the  spot  I  found  it  impossible  to  obtain  the  smallest 
glimpse  of  the  lion,  although  the  ground  favored  me,  I  having  the 
upper  bank  to  stand  on;  so,  dismounting  from  my  horse,  I  tried  to 
guess,  from  his  horrid  growling,  his  exact  position,  and  fired  several 
shots  on  chance,  but  none  of  these  hit  him.  I  then  commenced  pelt- 
ing him  with  lumps  o*  earth  and  sticks,  there  being  no  stones  at 


HUNTING  LIONS.  429 


hand.  This  haa  the  effect  of  making  him  shift  his  position,  but  he 
still  kept  in  the  densest  part  of  the  reeds,  where  I  could  do  nothing 
with  him. 

Presently  my  followers  came  up,  who,  as  a  matter  of  course,  at 
once  established  themselves  safely  in  the  tops  of  thorn-trees.  After 
about  ten  minutes'  bullying,  the  lion  seemed  to  consider  his  quarters 
too  hot  for  him,  and  suddenly  madt  a  rush  to  escape  from  his  perse- 
cutors, continuing  his  course  down  along  the  edge  of  the  river.  The 
dog§,  however,  again  gave  him  chase,  and  soon  brought  him  to  bay 
in  another  dense  patch  of  reeds,  just  as  bad  as  the  last.  Out  of  this 
in  a  few  minutes  I  managed  to  start  him,  when  he  bolted  up  the 
river,  and  came  to  bay  in  a  narrow  strip  of  reeds.  Here  he  lay  so 
close  that  for  a  long  time  I  could  not  ascertain  his  whereabouts ;  at 
length,  however,  he  made  a  charge  among  the  dogs,  and,  coming 
forward  took  up  a  position  near  the  outside  of  the  reeds,  where  for 
the  first  time  I  was  enabled  to  give  him  a  shot.  My  ball  entered 
his  body  a  little  behind  the  shoulder.  On  receiving  it  he  charged 
growling  after  the  dogs,  but  no  farther  than  the  edge  of  the  reeds, 
out  of  which  he  was  extremely  reluctant  to  move.  I  gave  him  a 
second  shot,  firing  for  his  head ;  my  ball  entered  his  eye,  and  passed 
through  the  back  of  the  roof  of  his  mouth. 

The  lion  then  sprang  up,  and  facing  about,  dashed  through  the 
reeds,  and  plunged  into  the  river,  across  which  he  swam,  dyeing  the 
waters  with  his  blood;  one  black  dog,  named  "Schwart,"  alone 
pursued  him.  A  huge  crocodile,  attracted  by  the  blood,  followed  in 
their  wake,  but  fortunately  did  not  take  my  dog,  which  I  much 
feared  he  would  do.  Present  fired  at  the  lion  as  he  swam,  and 
missed  him ;  both  my  barrels  were  empty.  Before,  however,  the 
lion  could  make  the  opposite  bank,  I  had  one  loaded  without  patch, 
and  just  as  his  feet  grazed  the  ground  I  made  a  fine  shot  at  his 
neck,  and  turned  him  over  dead  on  the  spot.  Present,  Carollus, 
and  Adonis,  then  swam  in  and  brought  him  through.  We  landed 
him  by  an  old  hippopotamus  foot-path,  and,  the  day  being  damp 
and  cold,  we  kindled  a  fire,  beside  which  we  skinned  him.  While 
this  was  going  forward  I  had  a  painful  duty  to  perform  viz.  to  load 
one  barrel,  and  blow  out  Rascality's  brains,  whom  the  lion  had  ut 


430 


HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


ferly  disabled  in  his  after-quarters.  Thus  ended  this  protracted  and 
all  but  unsuccessful  hunt;  for  when  I  at  length  managed  to  shoot 
him,  the  dogs  were  quite  tired  of  it,  and,  the  reeds  being  green,  1 
could  not  have  set  them  on  fire  to  force  him  out. 

The  lion  proved  to  be  a  first-rate  one ;  he  was  in  the  prime  of  life 
and  had  an  exquisitely  beautiful  coat  of  hair.  His  inane  was  not 
very  rank ;  his  awful  teeth  were  quite  perfect,  a  thing  which  in  lions 
of  his  age  is  rather  unusual ;  and  he  had  the  finest  tuft  of  hair  on 
the  end  of  his  tail  that  I  had  ever  seen  on  a  lion.  In  the  chas*e  my 
after-rider,  who  fortunately  did  not  carry  my  rifle,  got  a  tremenduous 
capsize  from  bad  riding,  a  common  occurrence  with  most  after-riders 
who  have  been  employed  in  my  service.  The  afternoon  was  spent 
in  drying  the  wet  mane  of  the  lion,  skinning  out  the  feet,  and  pre- 
serving the  skin  with  alum  and  arsenical  soap. 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

SIR.  w.  c.  HARRIS'S  GIRAFFE  HUNT. 

SOME  of  the  best  and  most  animating  accounts  of  giraffe  bunts 
we  contained  in  the  work  of  Sir  W.  Cornwallis  Harris.  Of  his 
magnificent  folio,  "  Portraits  of  the  Game  and  Wild  Animals  of 
Africa,"  we  cannot  speak  too  highly ;  it  is  equal,  in  many  respects, 
to  the  truly-superb  folios  of  Mr.  Gould.  From  it  we  extract  the 
following  spirit-stirring  adventures : 

It  was  on  the  morning  of  our  departure  from  the  residence  of  his 
Amazoola  majesty,  that  I  first  actually  saw  the  giraffe.  Although 
I  had  been  for  some  weeks  on  the  tiptoe  of  expectation,  we  had  hith 
erto  succeeded  in  finding  the  gigantic  footsteps  only  of  the  tallest  ct 
all  the  quadrapeds  upon  the  earth ;  but  at  dawn  of  that  day,  a  large 
party  of  hungry  savages,  with  four  of  the  Hottentots  on  horseback, 
having  accompanied  us  across  the  Mariqua  in  search  of  elands,  which 
were  reported  to  be  numerous  in  the  neighborhood,  we  formed  a  long 
line,  and,  having  drawn  a  great  extent  of  country  blank,  divided  into 
two  parties,  Richardson  keeping  the  right,  and  myself  to  the  left. 
Beginning,  at  length,  to  despair  of  success,  I  had  shot  a  hartebeeste 
for  the  savages,  when  an  object,  which  had  repeatedly  attracted  my 
eye,  but  which  I  had  as  often  persuaded  myself  was  nothing  more 
than  the  branchless  stump  of  some  withered  tree,  suddenly  shifted 
its  position,  and  the  next  moment  I  distinctly  perceived  that  singular 
form  of  which  the  apparition  had  ofttimes  visited  my  slumbers,  but 
upon  whose  reality  I  now  gtzed  for  the  first  time.  Gliding  rapidly 
among  the  trees,  above  the  topmost  bran  ues,  of  many  »f  which  its 

28  (433) 


434  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


graceful  head  nodded  like  some  lofty  pine,  all  doubt  was  in  another 
moment  at  an  end — it  was  the  stately,  the  long-sought  giraife,  and, 
putting  spurs  to  my  horae,  and  directing  the  Hottentots  to  follow,  I 
presently  found  myself  half  choked  with  excitement,  rattling  at  the 
heels  of  an  animal  which,  to  me,  had  been  a  stranger  even  in  its  cap- 
tive state,  and  which,  thus  to  meet  free  on  its  native  plains,  has 
fallen  to  the  lot  of  but  few  of  the  votaries  of  the  chase ;  sailing  be- 
fore me  with  incredible  velocity,  his  long  swan-like  neck,  keeping 
Sime  to  the  eccentric  motion  of  his  stilt-like  legs — his  ample  black 
tail  curled  above  his  buck,  and  whisking  in  ludicrous  concert  with 
the  rocking  of  his  disproportioned  frame — he  glided  gallantly  along 
"  like  some  tall  ship  upon  the  ocean's  bosom,"  and  seemed  to  leave 
whole  leagues  behind  him  at  each  stride. 

The  ground  was  of  the  most  treacherous  description ;  a  rotten, 
black  soil,  overgrown  with  long,  coarse  grass,  which  concealed  from 
view  innumerable  gaping  fissures,  that  momentarily  threatened  to 
bring  down  my  horse.  For  the  first  five  minutes,  I  rather  lost  than 
gained  ground,  and,  despairing  over  such  a  country  of  ever  diminish- 
ing the  distance,  or  improving  my  acquaintance  with  this  ogre  in 
seven  league  boots,  I  dismounted,  and  the  mottled  carcass  present- 
ing a  fair  and  inviting  mark,  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  hearing  two 
balls  tell  roundly  upon  his  plank-like  stern.  But  as  well  might  I 
have  fired  at  a  wall ;  he  neither  swerved  from  his  course  or  slackened 
his  pace,  and  pushed  on  so  far  ahead  during  the  time  that  I  was  re- 
loading, that,  after  remounting,  I  had  some  difficulty  in  even  keep- 
ing sight  of  him  among  the  trees.  Closing  again,  however,  I  re- 
peated the  dose  on  the  other  quarter,  and  spurred  my  horse  along, 
ever  and  anon  sinking  to  the  fetlock — the  giraffe  now  flagging  at 
each  stride — until,  as  I  was  coming  up  hand-over-hand,  and  success 
eeemed  certain,  the  cup  was  suddenly  dashed  from  my  lips,  and  down 
I  came  headlong — my  horse  having  fallen  into  a  pit,  and  lodged  me 
close  to  an  ostrich's  nest,  near  which  two  of  the  old  birds  were 
sitting.  Happily,  there  were  no  bones  broken,  but  the  violence 
of  the  shock  had  caused  the  lashings  of  my  previously-broken  ride 
to  give  waj^  and  had  do  ibled  tbe  stocks  in  half,  the  barrels  only  hang- 
ing to  the  wood  by  the  trigger  guard.  Nothing  dismayed,  however, 


HUNING  THE  GIRAFFE.  436 


Dy  this  h  iavy  calamity,  I  remounted  my  jaded  beast,  and  one  more 
effort  brought  me  ahead  of  my  wearied  victim,  which  stood  still  and 
allowed  me  to  approach  In  vain  did  I  now  attempt  to  bind  my  frac- 
tured rifle  with  a  pocket-handkerchief,  in  order  to  admit  of  my  ad- 
ministering the  coup  de  grace.  The  guard  was  so  contracted  that, 
in  the  tantalizing  phantasies  of  a  night-mare,  the  hammer  could  not 
be  brought  down  upon  the  nipple.  In  vain  I  looked  around  for  a 
stone,  and  sought  in  every  pocket  for  my  knife,  with  which  either  to 
strike  the  copper-cap  and  bring  about  ignition,  or  hamstring  the  co- 
lossal but  harmless  animal,  by  whose  towering  side  I  appeared  the 
veriest  pigmy  in  the  creation.  Alas !  I  had  lent  it  to  the  Hotten- 
tots to  cut  off  the  head  of  the  hartebeeste,  and,  after  a  hopeless  search 
in  tho  remotest  corners,  each  hand  was  withdrawn  empty.  Vainly 
did  I  then  wait  for  the  tardy  and  rebellious  villians  to  come  to  my 
assistance,  making  the  welkin  ring,  and  my  throat  tingle  with  reite 
rated  shouts.  Not  a  soul  appeared,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  giraffe, 
having  recovered  his  wind,  and  being  only  slightly  wounded  on  the 
hind-quarters,  shuffled  his  long  legs,  twisted  his  bushy  tail  over  his 
back,  walked  a  few  steps,  then  broke  into  a  gallop,  and,  diving  into 
the  mazes  of  the  forest,  presently  disappeared  from  my  sight.  Dis- 
appointed and  annoyed  at  my  discomfiture,  I  returned  toward  the 
wagons,  now  eight  miles'  distant,  and  on  my  way  overtook  the  Hot- 
tentots, who,  pipe  in  mouth,  were  leisurely  strolling  home,  with  an 
air  of  total  indifference  as  to  my  proceedings,  having  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  "  Sir,  could  not  fung  de  kameel"  (catch  the  giraffe,) 
for  which  reason  they  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  follow  me,  as 
I  had  directed.  Two  days  after  this  catastrophe,  having  advanced 
to  the  Tolaan  River,  we  again  took  the  field,  accompanied  by  the  whole 
of  the  male  inhabitants  of  three  large  kraals,  in  addition  to  those  that 
had  accompanied  us  from  the  last  encampment.  The  country  had 
now  become  undulating,  extensive  mimosa  groves  occupying  all  the 
valley  as  well  as  the  banks  of  the  Tolaan  winding  among  them,  on 
its  way  to  join  Vbe  Mariqua.  Before  we  had  proceeded  many  hun- 
dred yards,  our  progress  was  opposed  by  a  rhinocer  )s,  who  looked  in 
defiance,  hut  quickly  took  the  hint  we  gave  him  to  get  out  of  the 
way.  Two  fat  elands  had  been  pointed  out  at  the  verge  of  the  copw 


436  HUNTING  ADVENTUR1IS. 


the  moment  before.  One  jf  which  Richardson  disposed  of  ivith  but 
little  difficulty,  the  other  leading  me  through  all  the  intricacies  of 
the  labyrinth  to  a  wide  plain  on  the  opposite  side.  On  entering  which, 
I  found  the  fugitive  was  prostrate  at  my  feet  in  the  middle  of  a  troop 
of  giraffes,  who  stooped  their  long  necks,  astounded  at  the  intrusion, 
ihen  consulted  a  moment  how  they  should  best  escape  the  impending 
danger,  and  in  another  they  were  sailing  away  at  their  utmost  speed. 
rlo  have  followed  upon  my  then  jaded  horse  would  have  been  absurd, 
and  I  was  afterward  unable  to  recover  any  trace  of  them. 

Many  days  elapsed  before  we  again  saw  the  tall  giraffe,  nor  were 
our  eyes  gladdened  with  his  sight  until  after  we  had  crossed  *he 
Cashan  Mountains  to  the  country  of  the  Baquaina,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  seeking  for  him.  After  the  many  contretemps,  how  shall 
I  express  the  sensations  I  experienced  as,  on  a  cool  November  evening, 
after  rapidly  following  some  fresh  traces  in  profound  silence,  for  sev- 
eral miles,  I  at  length  counted  from  the  back  of  '*  JBreslau,"  my  most 
trusty  steed,  no  fewer  than  thirty-two  of  various  sizes  industriously 
stretching  their  peacock  necks  to  crop  the  tiny  leaves  that  fluttered 
above  their  heads,  in  a  flowering  mimosa  grove  which  beautified  the 
scenery.  My  heart  leaped  within  me,  and  my  blood  coursed  like 
quicksilver  through  my  veins,  for,  with  a  firm  wooded  plain  before 
me,  I  knew  they  were  mine;  but,  although  they  stood  within  a  hun- 
dred yards  of  me,  having  previously  determined  to  try  the  "  boarding" 
system,  reserved  my  fire. 

Notwithstanding  that  I  had  taken  the  field  expressly  to  look  for 
giraffes,  and  in  consequence  of  several  of  the  remarkable  spoors  of 
these  animals  having  been  seen  the  evening  before,  had  taken  four 
mounted  Hottentots  in  my  suite,  all  excepting  Piet  had,  as  usual, 
slipped  off  unperceived  in  pursuit  of  a  troop  of  koodoos.  Our  steal- 
thy approach  was  soon  opposed  by  an  ill-natured  rhinoceros,  which, 
with  her  old  fashioned  calf,  stood  directly  in  our  path,  and  the 
twinkling  of  her  bright  little  eyes,  accompanied  by  a  restless  rolling 
of  the  body,  giving  earnest  of  her  mischievous  intentions.  I  directed 
Piet  to  salute  her  with  a  broadside,  at  the  same  time  putting  spurs 
to  my  horse.  At  the  report  of  the  gun,  and  sudden  clatter  of  the 
hoofs-  away  bounded  the  herd  in  grotesque  confusion,  clearing  the 


HUNTING  THE  GIRAFFE.  437 


gr-mnd  bj  a  succession  of  frog-like  leaps,  and  leaving  me  far  ir  the 
rear.  Twice  were  their  Towering  forms  concealed  from  view  by  a 
park  of  trees,  which  we  entered  at  the  same  instant,  and  twic?,  on 
emerging  from  the  labyrinth,  did  I  perceive  them  tilting  over  an 
eminence  far  in  advance,  their  sloping  backo  reddening  in  the  sun- 
shine, as  with  giant  port  they  topped  the  ridges  in  right  gallant 
style.  A  white  turban  that  I  had  round  my  hunting  cap,  being 
drawn  off  by  a  projecting  bough,  was  instantly  charged  and  trampled 
under  foot  by  three  rhinoceroses,  and  long  afterward,  looking  over  my 
shoulder,  I  could  perceive  the  ungainly  brutes  in  the  rear  fagging 
themselves  to  overtake  me.  In  the  course  of  five  minutes  the  fugi- 
tives arrived  at  a  small  river,  the  treacherous  sands  of  which  receiv- 
ing their  spider-legs,  their  flight  was  greatly  retarded,  and  by  the 
time  they  had  floundered  to  the  opposite  side  and  scrambled  to  the 
top  of  the  bank,  I  could  perceive  that  their  race  was  run.  Patting 
the  neck  of  my  good  steed,  I  urged  him  again  to  his  utmost,  and  in- 
stantly found  myself  aside  of  the  herd.  The  lordly  chief  being 
readily  distinguishable  from  the  rest  by  his  dark  chestnut  robe,  and 
superior  stature,  I  applied  the  muzzle  of  my  rifle  behind  his  dappled 
shoulder  with  my  right  hand,  and  drew  both  triggers;  but  he  still 
continued  to  shuffle  along,  and  being  afraid  of  losing  him  should  I 
dismount,  among  the  extensive  mimosa  groves  with  which  the  land- 
scape was  now  obscured,  I  sat  in  my  saddle,  load'iu^  and  firing  be- 
hind the  elbow,  and  then  placing  myself  across  his  path  to  obstruct 
his  progress.  Mute,  dignified,  and  majestic  stood  the  unfortunate 
victim,  occasionally  stooping  his  elastic  neck  towards  his  persecutor, 
the  tears  trickling  from  the  lashes  of  his  dark  humid  eye,  as  broad 
side  after  broadside  was  poured  into  his  brawny  front. 

"  His  drooping  head  sinks  gradually  low, 
And  through  his  side  the  last  drops  ebbing  slow 
From  the  red  gash  fall  heavy  one  by  one, 
Like  the  first  of  a  thunder  shower." 

Presently  a  convulsive  shivering  seized  his  limbs,  his  coat  stood  on 
end,  his  lofty  fn.me  began  to  totter,  and  at  the  seventeenth  discharge 
from  the  deadly  grooved  bore,  like  a  falling  minaret  bowing  his  gnu:e- 


438  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


ful  head  from  the  skies,  his  proud  form  was  prostrate  in  *he  dust. 
Never  shall  I  forget  the  intoxicating  excitement  of  that  moment  !  A4 
last,  then,  the  summit  of  my  ambition  was  actually  attained,  and  the 
towering  giraffe  laid  low  !  Tossiug  my  turbanless  cap  into  the  air, 
alone  in  the  wild  wood,  I  hurraed  with  bursting  exultation,  and  un- 
saddling my  steed,  sank,  exhausted  with  delight,  beside  the  noble 
prize  I  had  won. 

While  I  leisurely  contemplated  the  massive  form  before  me,  seem- 
ing as  though  it  had  been  cast  in  a  mould  of  brass,  and  wrapped  in 
a  hide  an  inch  and  a  half  in  thickness,  it  was  no  longer  matter  of 
astonishment  that  a  bullet  discharged  from  a  distance  of  eighty  or 
ninety  yards  should  have  been  attended  with  little  effect  upon  such 
amazing  strength. 

Two  hours  were  passed  in  completing  a  drawing,  and  Piet  still  not 
making  his  appearance,  I  cut  off  the  ample  tail,  which  exceeded  five 
feet  in  length,  and  was  measureless  the  most  estimable  trophy  I  had 
ever  gained.  But  on  proceeding  to  saddle  my  horse,  which  I  had  left 
quietly  grazing  by  the  running  brook,  my  chagrin  may  be  conceived 
when  I  discovered  that  he  had  taken  advantage  of  my  occupation  to 
free  himself  from  his  halter  and  abscond.  Being  ten  miles  from  the 
wagons,  and  in  a  perfectly  strange  country,  I  felt  convinced  that  the 
only  chance  of  saving  my  pet  from  the  clutches  of  the  lion,  was  to 
follow  his  trail;  while  doing  which  with  infinite  difficulty,  the 
ground  scarcely  deigning  to  receive  a  foot-print,  I  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  meeting  Piet  and  Mobanycom,  who  had  fortunately  seen  and 
re-captured  the  truant.  Returning  to  the  giraffe,  we  all  feasted 
merrily  on  the  flesh,  which  although,  highly  scented  with  the  rank 
ruokaala  blossom?,  was  far  from  despicable,  and  losing  our  way  in 
consequence  of  the  twin-like  resemblance  of  two  scarped  hills,  we 
did  not  finally  regain  the  wagons  until  after  the  setting  sun  beania 
had  ceased  to  play  upon  the  trembling  leaves  of  the  light  acacias, 
and  the  golden  splendor  which  was  sleeping  upon  the  plain  had 
gradually  passed  away. 

Singular  aad  striking  as  is  the  form  of  the  giraffe,  it  only  fur- 
nishes a  proof  of  the  wonderful  manner  in  which  an  all -wise  Create" 
has  adapted  means  to  ends.  A  vegetable  feeder,  but  an  inhabitant 


HUNTING  THE  GIRAFFE.  439 


of  sterile  and  sandy  deserts,  its  long  slender  neck  and  sloping  body; 
enable  it  to  reach  with  ease  its  favorite  food ;  leaf  by  leaf  is  daintily 
plucked  from  the  lofty  branch  by  the  pliant  tongue  and  a  mouth- 
ful of  tender  and  juicy  food  is  speedily  accumulated.  The  oblique 
fcnd  narrow  apertures  of  the  nostrils,  defended  even  to  their  margins 
by  a  chevaux  de  /rise  of  strong  hairs,  and  surrounded  by  muscular 
fibres  by  which  they  can  be  hermetically  sealed,  effectually  prevent 
the  entrance  of  the  fine  particles  of  sand  which  the  suffocating  storms 
o(  the  desert  raise  in  fiery  clouds,  destructive  to  the  lord  of  the  cre- 
ation. Erect  on  those  stilt-like  legs,  the  giraffe  surveys  the  wide  ex- 
panse, and  feeds  at  ease,  for  those  mild,  large  eyes  are  so  placed  that 
it  can  see  not  only  on  all  sides,  but  even  behind,  rendering  it  next 
to  impossible  for  an  enemy  to  approach  undiscovered.  As  we  reflect 
on  these  and  numberless  other  points  for  admiration  presented  f  y  the 
giraffe,  we  involuntarily  exclaim  with  the  Psalmist,  "  Oh,  Lord  !  how 
oaanifo.M  are  thy  works ;  in  wisdom  has  thou  made  them  all  I" 

"  Nature  to  these,  without  profusion  kind, 
The  proper  organs,  proper  powers  assigned; 
Each  seeming  what  compensated  of  course, 
Here  with  degrees  of  swiftness,  there  of  fore 4 ; 
All  in  exact  proportion  to  the  state, 
Nothing  to  add.  and  nothing  to  »b«t»  " 


CHAPTER  LXXI. 

A  BRUSH  WITH  A  BISON. 

loiiowing  t  ;rilling  narrative  of  a  buffalo  hunt,  is  by  John  Millsj 
Esq.  We  were  now  on  the  verge  of  the  upper  prairies,  no  longer  ena- 
meled with  flowers  and  flowering  plants,  but  covered  with  a  short, 
coarse,  herbage  called  "  buffalo  grass,"  on  which  the  buffalo  loves  to 
feed.  These  hunting  grounds  are  far  easier  to  ride  over,  from  being 
free  from  vines  and  entangling  shrubs  which  interlace  each  other  in 
impenetrable  masses,  although  the  yawning  clefts,  made  by  the  water 
courses,  the  wallows  formed  by  the  buffaloes  making  baths  for  them- 
selves by  ripping  the  earth  open  with  their  heads  in  soft,  oozy  spots, 
and  the  burrowing  of  that  sharp  and  watchful  little  animal  the  prairie 
dog,  cause  both  horse  and  horseman  to  run  considerable  risk  when 
taking  a  spin  over  the  flat.  Hill  and  dale,  bluff  and  level,  the  land- 
scape broken  upon  the  eye  in  one  of  those  infinite  and  fruitful  waters, 
strikes  the  mind  with  awe  at  its  grand  and  boundless  scale. 

The  serious  object  of  the  expedition  was  now  on  the  eve  of  being 
realized,  and  the  land  of  promise  being  gained,  every  preparation 
had  been  made  the  succeeding  morning  for  a  regular  buffalo  hunt 
In  addition  to  my  rifle  and  pistols,  I  carried  a  long  lance  with  the 
shaft  made  of  the  toughest  ash.  This  weapon  I  luund  rather  un- 
wieldy and  awkward,  and  saw  how  different  it  looked  in  the  hands 
of  my  companions;  but  Hawkoye  insisted  that  it  was  indispensable, 
as  I  could  not  attempt  the  use  of  bow  and  arrow. 

Stripped  of  all  superfluous  garments,  and  fully  equipped  for  the  ex- 
pedition, my  companions  mounted  their  horses,  with  their  lassoes 
uncoiled  and  trailing  upon  the  ground,  as  invariably  is  the  rule  in 
(440) 


HUNTING  THE  BISON.  443 


wAr  or  hunting,  for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  re-capture  of  the 
animal  should  an  unlucky  separation  take  place  between  the  rider 
and  his  saddle.  Alike  eager  for  the  sport,  both  horses  and  men 
seemed  to  be  moved  by  a  desire  to  let  no  "  important  delay"  stand 
between  them  and  the  consummation  of  their  hopes,  and,  as  we 
moved  forward  to  give  chase  to  the  herds  which  were  known  to  be 
in  the  vicinity,  I  thought  that  a  finer  set  of  Osage  hunters,  albeit 
the  last  of  the  race,  never,  perhaps,  drew  a  bowstring  or  couched  a 
lance.  Indeed,  nothing  can  be  conceived  handsomer  than  they  looked, 
ast  with  their  bronzed  chests  and  finely-developed  limbs  exposed, 
they  sat  upon  their  plunging  horses  like  statues  of  faultless  mould. 
A.  few  had  decorated  their  bits  and  bridles  with  blue  and  scarlet 
tassels,  and  not  the  least  of  the  most  gayly-decked  was  my  retainer, 
Hawkeye,  who  appeared  disposed  to  be  equally  conspicuous  in  field,  or 
tent,  or  lady's  bower. 

It  was  now  that  I  rued  the  luckless  mishap  which  cost  me  Sunny- 
side,  and  learned — alas !  not  for  the  first  time — the  true  value  of 
lessons  taught  by  experience.  For  knowing  how  much  depends  on 
their  horses,  in  expeditious  of  this  kind,  the  Indians  take  the  great- 
est care  in  running  no  unnecessary  risks  with  them,  although  when 
in  the  ardor  of  the  chase  they  ride  like  demons,  and  reck  little  of 
danger  to  life  and  limb. 

As  my  wild  colt  had  successfully  given  me  the  slip  at  the  moment 
of  anticipating  bis  services  in  carrying  me  "  to  buffalo,"  I  was  fain 
to  depend  still  upon  Nigger,  who,  Hawkeye  swore  by  the  shades  of 
his  fathers,  would  outstrip  the  best  of  the  herd,  "  if  I  only  drove  my 
epurs  well  in  and  held  them  there."  Certes,  this  was  a  fair  specimen 
of  Indian  treatment  to  the  horse,  more  particularly  should  his  master 
be  in  possession  of  the  white  man's  instruments  of  control.  Delighted 
with  making  an  exhibition  of  his  horsemanship,  and  totally  regard- 
less of  the  maddening  effects  of  bit  and  spur,  the  Indian  is  never  at 
rest  with  them,  but  keeps  both  at  work  with  relentless  rigor  and 
perseverance.  Among  the  red  man's  virtues,  humanity  to  tho  brute 
creation,  or  indeed  to  those  of  his  own  kind,  can  not  be  classed  with 
an  approach  to  truth. 

Without  evincing  any  emotion  of  deep  chagrin,  Adonis  was  lof1 


444  Hl.NTIlfQ  ADVENTURES. 


behin  I  to  guard  such  goods,  chattels,  and  provisions  as  would  hav  • 
proved  useless  to  have  been  carried  forward,  and  as  it  was  expected 
that  we  should  be  enabled  to  return  to  the  encampment  before  night- 
fall, he  was  directed  to  hold  all  things  in  readiness,  and  more  espe- 
cially to  withstand  temptation  in  keeping  his  mouth  from  the  bung 
of  my  whisky-jug.  In  an  extended  line,  or  by  the  familiar  descrip- 
tion of  Indian  file,  we  began  this  march  as  usual  just  at  ruddy  day- 
break, and  were  not  far  advanced  on  the  great  prairie  stretching  be- 
fore us  like  a  vast  and  limitless  ocean,  when  Blackwolf,  who  headed 
the  force,  reined  in  his  dark  iron-gray  steed  with  a  sudden  jerk 
which  sent  him  nearly  upon  his  haunches.  In  an  instant  all  was 
commotion.  Arrows  were  drawn  from  their  quivers,  bow-strings 
were  tied  and  thrummed,  lances  poised,  and  ever}'  eye  directed  to 
the  spot  on  which  the  chief  fixed  his  earnest  and  flashing  gaze. 

Not  two  miles  distant,  and  feeding  in  fancied  security  on  a  piece 
of  table  land  as  level  as  a  bowling-green,  a  large  herd  of  buffalo  was 
descried,  looking  at  the  distance  like  so  many  black  specks  on  the 
waste.  Some  I  could  perceive  were  lying  down,  and  the  scene  alto- 
gether may  be  compared,  without  violence  to  the  imagination,  to 
what  the  tourist  may  witness  by  the  aid  of  railways,  within  a  few  hours 
of  any  of  our  principal  cities,  and  where  no  dread  exists  of  Pawnees 
and  Camanches. 

It  was  decided  that  we  should  head  the  herd,  and  endeavor  to 
drive  them  back  toward  the  encampment,  in  order  to  save  as  little 
time  and  trouble  as  possible  in  getting  the  meat  and  skins  to  that 
omarter.  In  prosecuting  this  scheme  we  had  to  make  a  wide  circle 
from  the  direct  course,  and,  indeed,  it  would  have  been  impossible  to 
approach  them  in  any  other  way,  as  we  were  down  the  wind,  and  their 
powers  of  scent,  like  those  given  to  the  denizens  of  the  wild  in  ge- 
neral, are  of  the  most  acute  order. 

"  You  know,  major,"  observed  Hawkeye,  as  he  turned  our  horses 
considerably  to  the  left,  for  the  purpose  of  covering  our  circumvent- 
ing manoeuvre  under  the  screen  of  two  lines  of  bluffs  running  parallel 
with  each  other,  "  You  know,  major,"  repeated  he,  with  a  slight 
twinkle  of  satire  in  his  snake-like  eyes,  "  for  all  de  Britishers  dat 
come  here,  say  'you  know'  to  every  thing,  dat  buffa/o  smell  Indian 


HUNTING  THE  E.'SON.  445 


mile  off.     No  sec  far;   but  suiell — Hah  !  no  saying  how  far  buffufo 
smell." 

Taking  every  precaution  to  prevent  an  exercise  of  these  powers 
upon  the  force  now  approaching  their  precincts,  our  head  and  front 
of  the  party,  Blackwolf  led  us,  with  consummate  generalship,  close  to 
the  rear  of  the  unsuspecting  animals,  and  we  were  upon  them  with- 
out a  single  head  being  disturbed.  At  first,  we  gave  ourselves  to 
view  from  behind  the  bluffs,  a  few  of  the  nearest  jerked  up  their 
heads,  and  after  a  stare,  remarkable  for  its  brevity,  erected  their 
tufted  tails  over  their  backs  and  moved  off  not  rapidly,  but  evidently 
preparing  for  a  bolt.  This  example  was  soon  followed  by  severa1 
^thers;  but  as  the  main  body,  consisting  of  upward  of  a  hundred, 
still  remained  undisturbed,  the  signal  for  attack  was  reserved,  as  the 
first  object  in  buffalo-hunting  appears  to  be  precisely  that  in  our  own 
glorious  fox-hunting — to  get  on  good  terms  with  the  chase.  Cau- 
tiously, and  restraining  the  ardent  and  fierce  spirit  of  our  horses  to 
Ke^p  within  the  compass  of  control,  we  still  slowly  advanced  in  a  doubia 
ane,  while  many  of  the  animals  knowing,  like  an  old  seasoned  Kn 
^lish  hunter  when  he  catches  a  glimpse  of  the  pack  at  the  meet,  tbc 
run  in  preparation,  pulled  with  might  and  main  and  almost  defied  MK- 
stalwart  tug  upon  their  jaws 

The  pickets  having  been  driven  in,  1  noticed  an  animal  of  strikin,. 
appearance  surrounded  by  a  knot  of  others,  suddenly  throw  up  ln« 
head,  and  elevating  his  tail  simultaneously  with  his  pericranium,  who-.-- 
suddenly  in  an  opposite  direction  and  gallop  away,  douotiessly,  as  fa.»: 
as  his  legs  and  hoofs  would  carry  him. 

This  praiseworthy  precedent  of  self-preservation  was  immediaun} 
adopted  by  the  entire  family,  and  the  patriarch,  leading  the  wuv. 
found  ready  follow  irs  at  a  pace  corresponding  with  his  own. 

It  was  a  moment  of  the  most  thrilling  excitement  of  my  life,  at 
with  a  swoop  the  Indians  dashed  ahead,  and  with  halter  and  reiij 
dangling  free,  to  see  their  horses  strain  their  utmost  powers  to  out- 
strip the  fugitives,  and  bring  them  within  reach  of  bow  and  lanre. 
Niggerrl  may  confidently  state,  did  his  best  without  the.  aid  of  Hawk- 
eye's  cruel  suggestion,  although  in  a  very  short  distance,  it  was  con- 
clusively obvious  that  he  could  not  long  live  the.  pace  we  were 


416  HUNIING  ADVENTURES. 


at  The  pori}  however,  with  his  ears  thrown  back  like  a  race-horse, 
at  his  final  effort,  and  we  were  within  a  few  score  yards  at  the  mo 
ment  of  Blackwolf 's  bearing  close  to  the  right  side  of  the  nearest 
buffalo,  and  drawing  his  bow  at  the  moment  of  passing,  buried  the 
arrow  to  the  feather.  In  an  instant  the  hor^e  wheeled  to  avoid  the 
thrust  which  the  wounded  buffalo  often  makes;  but  Bluckwolf's  victim 
was  stricken  in  a  vital  part,  and  he  rolled  over  struggling  and  bleed- 
ing in  the  throes  of  deadly  agony.  Right  and  left  the  Indians  scoured 
the  plain  in  hot  pursuit  of  the  doomed  and  frightened  animals,  and 
never  halting  in  the  chase,  but  rushing  from  one  to  another  as  the 
huge  beasts  shouldered  along  in  their  ungainly  gallop  down  the  val- 
lies  and  over  the  bluffs,  and  across  huge  gaping  rents  in  the  prairie, 
aused  by  the  winter  torrents,  brought  them  to  the  ground  like  skittles 
trom  well-directed  hands. 

There  appeared  to  be  no  chance  for  me  to  flesh  my  maiden  lance, 
and  I  began  to  despair  of  adding  a  single  head  to  the  number  slain, 
when  I  caught  sight  of  a  solitary  fugitive  stealing  away  through  t. 
stony  ravine  much  to  the  left  of  the  line  which  the  rest  had  taken, 
and  from  his  action  I  concluded  that  he  had  met  with  a  wound  whicL 
materially  interfered  with  his  speed.  With  an  unequivocal  disposi- 
tion to  refuse  taking  any  other  cours\  than  the  one  he  was  pursu- 
ing, Nigger  began  to  wrestle  for  the  mastership,  and  being  encum- 
bered with  my  lance,  I  ha«l-some  difficulty  in  pricking  him  toward 
the  point  where  the  buffalo,  alone  in  his  flight,  was  using  his  best 
energies  to  escape.  The  pointed  iron,  however,  prevailed,  and  the 
plucky  little  horse,  seeing  the  animal  scramble  over  a  conical  shaped 
hillock  in  the  distance,  settling  himself  again  in  his  best  pace,  and 
carried  me  forward  in  winning  style. 

The  buffalo  in  his  stride  is  a  most  singular  looking  animal,  pitch- 
ing to  and  fro  in  heavy  lumbering  fashion,  and  yet  gets  over  the 
ground  much  faster  than  he  appears.  From  the  thickness  of  bis  foic- 
hand  he  is  any  thing  but  speedy  on  rising  ground ;  but  on  a  level, 
or  descent,  he  can  play  a  merry  Dat.  He  is,  however,  no  mat»h  foi 
a  horse  under  any  circumstances,  and  under-sized  as  Niggtr  was, 
and  notwithstanding  the  distance  lost  at  the  start,  J  have  no  d  jubt, 


HUNTING  THE  DISON.  447 


had  he  not  been  crippled,  but  that  we  should  have  come  up  with  the 
patriarch  in  a  rua  of  somewhat  longer  duration. 

As  it  was,  we  were,  in  nautical  phraseology,  coming  up  with  the 
chase  hand  over  hand,  and  after  floundering  through  a  spongy  bottom, 
in  which  were  several  wallows  of  some  dozen  feet  in  diameter  madt 
by  the  buffaloes,  I  found  myself  near  enough  to  try  the  effect  of 
lead,  and  dropping  my  h»nce  to  trail  along  the  ground  by  a  thong 
attached  to  my  wrist,  for  I  was  not  expert  enough  to  handle  both  it 
and  my  rifle,  as  an  Indian  would  have  done  without  inconvenience, 
I  brought  the  barrels  to  bear  and  gave  the  contents  of  both  just  as 
Nigger's  nose  was  on  a  level  with  the  haunch  of  one  of  the  largest 
and  blackest  bulls  that  ever  ranged  over  a  western  plain. 

With  due  regard  for  the  preservation  of  himself,  and  possibly  hia 
rider,  Nigger  made  an  abrupt  curve,  and  sheering  off,  almost  at  a 
right  angle,  avoided  an  ugly  vicious  thrust,  which  the  bull  might 
have  made  much  more  effective  than  my  brace  of  bullets,  had  not 
the  sagacity  of  the  pony  taught  him  to  avoid  it.  Upon  reining  in 
my  gallant  and  discreet  little  steed,  and  turning  his  head  again  to- 
ward the  buffalo,  I  saw  that  he  was  standing  still,  and  giving  as  bold 
a  front  as  was  ever  offered  to  an  enemy.  Coming  to  a  correspond- 
ing position,  I  deliberately  re-loaded  my  rifle,  and  approached  him 
with  the  greatest  caution ;  for  whether  he  intended  to  wait  my  se- 
cond attack,  or  plunge  forward  and  send  me  and  Nigger  skimming 
to  some  unknown  corner  of  the  earth,  appeared  a  matter  of  doubt 
not  quite  made  up.  After  a  few  brief  moments  for  reconnoitring, 
I  urged  my  horse  to  advance  to  within  less  than  thirty  paces  of 
where  the  bull  stood  gazing  at  us,  with  his  curling  mane  and  beard 
sweeping  below  his  knees,  and  his  distended  jaws  droppii  g  foam, 
scarlet  dyed  with  blood.  Nothing,  indeed,  can  be  imagined  more 
ferocious  than  the  wounded  animal  looked,  fixing  the  peculiar  white 
balls  and  black  iris  of  his  eyes  upon  us,  under  his  shaggy  frontlet, 
with  the  expression  of  the  devil  in  a  mood  far  from  funny.  Think- 
ing it  expedient  to  bring  the  contest  to  a  conclusion  without  further 
waste  of  time,  I  essayed  a  manoeuvre 'in  order  to  obtain  a  sight  at  a 
more  vulnerable  part  of  my  victim's  carcass  than  that  which,  as  I  had 
been  given  to  understand  by  Hawkeye,  his  head  presented.  But,  at 


448  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


tho  baited  grimalkin  turns  to  the  worrying  cur,  so  did  tl  e  'aull  tum 
exactly  with  my  movements,  ever  presenting  his  head,  and  nothing 
but  his  head.  This  proving  exceedingly  wearisome,  and  quickly  ex- 
hausted the  slender  stock  of  patience  with  which  nature  supplied  me 
at  my  birth,  I  resolved  to  try  what  a  shot  would  do  in  the  centre  of 
his  forehead,  and  steadying  my  horse  for  a  moment,  snapped  ray  left 
barrel  at  him,  when  with  the  crack  he  dropped  down,  and  spurring 
forward  with  the  belief  that  I  had  given  him  his  coup  de  grace,  1 
was  not  a  little  surprised  to  see  him  again  stagger  to  his  feet,  ready 
to  receive  me  on  his  two  short  black  horns,  curved  in  the  best 
possible  shape  for  the  ripping  business. 

Perceiving,  however,  that  notwithstanding  the  last  bullet  had  only 
flattened  on  his  face,  he  was  fast  sinking  from  the  internal  hemor- 
rhage caused  by  the  two  first,  which  brought  him  to  a  check,  I 
determined,  therefore,  to  expend  no  more  valuable  ammunition  upon 
him,  but  inflict  a  final  thrust  or  two  of  cold  steel.  Re-slinging  my 
rifle  across  my  shoulders,  I  for  the  first  time  couched  a  lance  foi  a 
deadly  object,  and  rode  at  the  bull's  flank ;  but  he  was  too  quick 
for  me,  and  turned,  as  if  upon  a  pivot.  Round  and  round  we  went 
Nigger,  with  pricked  ears  and  nimble  limbs,  keeping  a  steady  loo) 
upon  the  buffalo's  movements,  and  far  from  liking  the  loud  snorts 
of  mingled  rage  and  pain  which  he  momentarily  sent  forth  as  we 
whirled  about  him.  But  the  attempts  of  the  enemy  to  foil  our  pur- 
pose grew  gradually  weaker,  and  at  length  failing  to  twist  witli  hig 
former  adroitness,  I  plunged  the  head  of  the  lance  to  the  shaft  in  liis 
body,  and  as  I  plucked  it  out,  the  crimson  current  of  his  life  poured 
forth,  and  falling  upon  his  knees,  he  rolled  over  dead  without  a 
Struggle. 

Dismounting  from  Nigger,  who  steamed  and  reeked,  probably  from 
the  combined  effects  of  fear  and  exertion,  I  commenced  a  close  in- 
spection of  my  victim,  and  found  that  an  arrow  had  passed  into  the 
3t-shy  part  of  the  near  thigh,  not  far  from  the  hock,  and,  breaking 
within  a  few  inches  of  the  barbed  point,  left  it  buried  there.  The 
beast  was  certainly  a  fine  specimen  of  the  wild  bull  of  the  prairie, 
and  might,  from  his  huge  size,  patriarchial  beard,  and  luxuriant  mane 
which  almost  imbedded  Inn  head,  ears,  and  horns,  have  roved  maut 


HUNTING  THE  BISON.  449 


successive  j<jars  as  the  chieftain  of  his  clan.  But  in  a  luckless  lioui 
the  Osage  hunters  espied  his  whereabouts,  and  within  a  short  half 
hour  of  the  discovery,  not  a  single  head  lived,  not  a  remnant  was  left. 

So  occupied  and  engrossed  had  I  been  "with  my  own  sport,  that  I 
had  taken  no  interest  in  what  was  going  on  with  my  companions; 
but  upon  making  a  sweep  of  the  horizon,  I  perceived  a  few  in  sight, 
scattered  here  and  there,  evidently  occupied  with  the  carcasses  of 
the  slain.  Climbing  again  into  the  saddle,  I  rode  to  the  nearest> 
and  found  Firefly  busily  engaged  in  stripping  a  skin  from  a  cow,  and 
as  it  smoked  from  his  bloody  fingers,  I  must  own,  a  slight  nausea 
affected  the  regions  of  my  stomach.  Hot,  naked,  and  fierce  from  ex- 
citement, the  savage  was  tearing  away  at  his  butchering  task,  and  I 
was  glad  to  turn  aside  from  the  gory  and  sickening  sight. 

The  rest,  he  informed  me,  I  should  find  similarly  employed  with 
himself,  as  the  whole  herd  was  killed,  and  seven  had  fallen  to  his  bow. 
He  boasted  of  having  used  but  a  single  arrow  to  each  head ;  but  I 
subsequently  found  this  was  not  quite  in  accordance  with  the  truth, 
although  the  first  three  had  fallen  as  he  described,  at  the  first  shot, 
and  his  quiver  proved  that  many  shafts  had  not  been  thrown  away. 

Upon  leaving  Firefly  at  his  truly  dirty  work,  I  put  Nigger  to  a 
gentle  canter,  and  soon  passed  several  carcasses  of  the  buffaloes 
stretched  on  the  greensward,  where  they  had  fallen  dead,  or  been 
disabled  by  the  arrow,  and  subsequently  lanced  by  the  hunters  who 
swept  in  the  trail  of  the  bowmen. 

Like  flies  collecting  around  carrion,  so  do  the  birds  and  beasts  of 
prey  hcver  and  slink  towards  the  scene  of  carnage  on  the  prairie 
from  every  quarter,  and  with  marvellous  powers  discover  the  spot 
where  their  feast  is  prepared.  In  incredible  numbers,  ravens,  buz- 
zards, crows,  and  others  of  the  same  large  family,  now  wheeled, 
screaming  most  discordantly  in  the  air,  and  packs  of  wolves  appeared 
howling  impatient  for  the  banquet.  The  appearance  of  the  animals 
in  the  distance  is  that  of  a  flock  of  sheep,  being  generally  perfectly 
white ;  but  among  some  dozen  or  fifteen  occupied  a  bluff  in  the 
course  I  was  taking,  and  howling  a  most  dismal  chorus,  I  perceived 
a  jet  black  member,  whose  skin  I  felt  desirous  of  possessing.  It  ia 
not,  however,  an  easy  task  to  get  on  close  term?  with  a  wolf,  unlesi 

29 


450  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


gorging  himself,  when  so  reluctant  is  he  to  quit  his  meal,  that,  era- 
"en-hearted  as  he  is,  he  can  scarcely  be  driven  from  it;  but  turning 
Nigger's  head  away  from  them,  as  if  I  intended  in  no  way  to  inter- 
rupt  the  assembly,  I  suddenly  brought  him  in  an  opposite  direction, 
upon  getting  on  a  line  with  the  yelling  crew,  and,  spurring  hard, 
sent  them  scampering  at  their  best  speed.  It  was  a  long,  raking 
shot,  but  covering  the  knight  of  the  sable  hue,  I  pulled,  and  dropped 
him  with  a  shot  through  the  spine.  He  grinned  most  horribly,  and 
snapped  his  teeth  together  like  the  rattle  of  castanets,  as  I  rode  up 
close  to  his  side,  and  gave  him  his  quietus  with  a  pistol. 

There  being  an  insurmountable  difficulty  in  marking  the  spot  wheie 
he  fell,  as  neither  tree  nor  bush  was  to  be  seen  by  which  it  could  be 
retraced,  I  considered  it  advisable  to  make  sure  of  my  booty  by  car- 
rying it  with  me,  and  as  I  was  not  expert  in  flaying,  I  was  compelled 
to  lift  the  carcass,  and,  bearing  it.  with  me  across  the  pony's  shoulders, 
commenced  a  piece  of  diversion  for  my  red-skinned  friends,  which 
lasted  as  long  as  I  was  with  them. 

Seeing  a  group  of  hunters  coming  towards  me,  I  advanced  to  meet 
them,  among  the  foremost  I  distinguished  the  bold  Hawkeye,  who. 
carried  a  large  bale  of  hides  in  front  of  him,  and  in  the  same  way 
that  T  was  carrying  my  treasure. 

"  Has  major  killed  buff'lo?"  inquired  he;  but  before  I  could  re- 
turn any  answer,  he  saw  the  quality  of  my  prize,  and  bursting  into 
a  roar  of  laughter,  exclaimed,  "  Major's  meat !  Ha  !  ha !  ha !  Major's 
moat !  Nice  roast,  major,  but  berry  lean  !" 

The  rest  also  were  moved  with  equal  mirth  at  the  trouble  I  had 
taken  at  bagging  a  wolf,  and  I  was  twitted  immensely  by  my  fac- 
tious critics,  who,  had  they  been  seen  rolling  on  their  horses,  milking 
the  welkin  ring  with  shouts  of  laughter,  would  have  given  a  practi- 
cal denial  of  the  solemn  character  assigned  to  them  by  the  writers 
of  fiction  for  the  subscribers  of  circulating  libraries.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  explanation  given,  I  was  frequently  reminded  of  the  great 
care  I  bestowed  upon  the  carcass  of  the  black  wolf,  it  being  alleged 
that  my  intention  was  to  eat  the  most  savory  parts,  only  for  th( 
discovery  of  the  error  that  he  did  not  come  under  the  head  of  game 


CHAPTER  LXXIl. 

GERARD,  THE  LION-g  LAYER. 

THE  people  of  India,  Turkey,  and  Arabia,  who  profess  the  Mahom- 
niedan  faith,  are  fatalists ;  that  is,  they  believe  every  thing  that  will 
happen  to  them  has  been  decreed  beforehand  by  God,  and  that  it  is 
therefore  useless  to  resist  misfortune,  or  in  other  words,  to  contend 
against  fate.  Clinging  to  this  creed,  they  are  naturally  indolent, 
and  comparatively  helpless.  They  sink,  whenever  circumstances 
permit,  into  habits  of  voluptuousness,  and  endeavoring  to  fill  up  life 
with  as  much  enjoyment  and  as  little  exertion  as  possible.  They  are 
alike  fanatics  and  cowards.  Without  energy  to  contend  against  a 
sudden  danger,  their  chief  virtues  are  submission  and  resignation. 
Thus,  at  the  appearance  of  a  royal  tiger  in  India,  the  population  will 
retreat  before  him,  abandoning  their  houses  and  harvests;  and  in 
Africa  the  Arab  trembles  when  he  hears  the  roaring  of  the  lion, — • 
resistance  is  too  frequently  not  thought  of;  one  hides  himself,  and 
another  flies,  and  the  monster  reigns,  a  terror  and  scourge. 

.Such  are  the  people  amongst  whom  the  hero  of  our  story,  Gerara, 
the  lion-slayer,  has  won  his  laurels, — a  man  of  delicate  frame,  but  an 
iron  heart, — poor  in  his  fortunes  and  simple  in  his  habits  as  the  Arab 
of  the  desert;  like  him  living  on  nuts  and  Jates;  drinking  from  the 
game  springs  as  the  lion  whose  steps  he  tracks;  exposing  himself  to 
a  thousand  dangers,  that  he  may  be  able  to  brave  a  peril  greater  than 
all ;  and  this  without  noise  or  eclat,  but  with  an  unassuming  modesty 
that  is  the  invariable  accompaniment  of  true  merit.  Jules  Gerard 
is  a  native  of  Pignan,  where  he  was  born  in  1817,  and  having  em 

(453) 


454  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


braced  the  profession  of  arras,  joined  the  3d  regiment  of  cavalry  in 
the  French  army  of  Algeria,  as  a  volunteer,  on  the  23d  of  June,  1842. 
At  first,  absorbed  in  military  duties  and  studies,  he  gave  himself 
but  little  to  the  exercises  of  the  chase,  if  we  may  dignify  with  that 
terra  shooting  excursions,  after  such  small  prey  as  quail,  water- fowl, 
rabbits,  foxes,  antelopes,  jackals,  and  wild-boars,  which  were  in  abund- 
ance. From  more  distant  enterprises,  the  soldiers  were  deterred 
by  the  fear  of  the  panther  and  the  lion,  and  the  yet  unconquered 
Arab.  Nor  were  they  less  afraid  of  those  vast  swarms  of  deadly 
flies  which  haunt  the  heights  of  Algeria,  and  settle  with  such  deter 
mination  and  vigor  upon  their  victims,  as  to  overcome  the  bravest 
and  strongest  man. 

The  immediate  vicinity  of  Bone,  having  submitted  to  the  French 
authority,  the  garrison  of  that  place  had  but  little  to  do  but  to  keep 
a  watchful  eye  upon  the  more  distant  provinces  whose  attitude  was 
threatening;  and  Gerard  had  little  opportunity,  therefore,  of  parti- 
cipating in  the  military  service  and  glory  for  which  he  thirsted.  In 
consequence  of  this  circumstance,  he  was  among  the  first  to  inscribe 
his  name  as  a  volunteer  to  serve  at  Guelraa,  an  advanced  post  to  the 
north  of  the  lower  chain  of  the  Atlas,  where  he  took  part  in  various 
expeditions,  between  the  years  1843  and  1846,  and  so  distinguished 
himself  by  his  valor,  that  he  had  twice  the  honor  of  being  mentioned 
in  the  military  despatches.  It  is  not  our  province  to  record  his  ex- 
ploits as  a  soldier.  War  is  a  capricious  mistress.  Her  moods  are 
variable.  Sometimes  she  gives  action  and  glory,  at  others  idleness 
and  discontent.  Inaction  is  the  purgatory  of  a  brave  and  adventurous 
man. 

Against  this  common  enemy,  each  soldier  arras  himself  as  his  in- 
clinations direct  and  his  resources  permit.  The  book-shelf  of  a  mili- 
tary man  is  soon  exhausted.  Men  look  anxiously  about  for  other 
sources  of  occupation  and  amusement. 

One  night  a  soldier  might  have  been  seen  climbing  the  ramparts, 
heedless  of  the  challenges  of  the  sentinels,  and  thus  exposing  hiua- 
Belf  to  the  chances  of  an  inglorious  death.  It  was  Jules  Gerard,  who 
had  beard  the  howling  r.f  wild  beasts.  },nd  had  set  off  to  encountef 
bad  reached  Linr  Au  old  linn  from  the  Atlas  moan 


HUNTING  THE  LION.  156 


tains  is  ravaging  the  country  around  Archioua,  and  innumerable 
victims,  men  as  well  as  cattle,  attested  the  terrible  presence  of  the 
monster.  Tne  whole  population  is  in  despair,  and  cries  aloud  for  an 
avenger.  As  an  avenger  Gerard  offers  himself. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  accompanied  by  his  dog — called  by 
tli"  prophetic  name  of  Lion — he  has  traversed  the  vast  plain  of  Guel- 
\,  broken  by 'ravens  and  hidden  streams,  and  clad  by  the  untrained 
txuriance  of  nature  with  a  gorgeousness  of  vegetation  far  exceeding 
,ae  richest  productions  of  European  climes.  Gerard,  having  exa- 
mined the  theatre  of  the  enemy's  depredations,  and  made  himself 
familiar  with  the  necessary  landmarks,  calmly  waits  the  return  of 
night.  The  hour  of  the  evening  watch  has  sounded.  Refreshments 
circulate  in  the  hospitable  tent  where  the  elders  of  the  tribe  are  as- 
sembled, and  one  of  the  most  gifted  of  the  natives  chants  a  long  and 
monotonous  ballad  in  honor  of  the  renowned  Arsenne. 

This  Arsenne  was  by  birth  a  Turk,  who  had  acquired  great  cele- 
brity under  the  ancient  beys  of  Constantino,  as  a  lion-hunter,  or  lion- 
Bnarer.  Sometimes  aloft  in  a  tree,  sometimes  buried  in  a  cavity  of 
the  rocks,  always  sheltered  in  impregnable  ambuscade,  he  killed  a 
great  number  of  these  ferocious  creatures  without  ever  daring  openly 
to  face  them.  He  wanted  the  glory  of  this  exploit,  or  to  speak  more 
truly,  he  was  challenged  by  his  betrothed,  and,  in  her  sweetest  tones, 
she  said  to  him  one  day,  — "  Arsenne,  dost  thou  hear  in  the  moun- 
tain the  roaring  of  the  lion  '/" 

"  I  hear  it,"  Arsenne  replied. 

"  You  must  bring  me  his  skin  to-night ;  not  as  a  new  trophy  of  thy 
address,  but  of  thy  valor.  In  the  open  country  only  shalt  thou  attack 
him." 

Such  was  her  command.  She  waited  the  result.  To  humor  hia 
>etrothed,  the  enamored  Arsenne  threw  himself  upon  the  track  of 

the  lion His  bones  only  were  discovered  at  the  foot  of  a 

ravine. 

This  little  history  imparted  something  of  a  solemnity  to  the  ocua. 
•ibn.  Was  it  intended  as  a  prudent  warning  against  the  rashness 
of  his  enterprise  ?  Or  was  it  a  last  confession  of  humiliation  on  th« 
part  of  the  Arab,  in  accepting  the  heroic  protection  of  the  infidel  f 


45(5  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


Whatever  the  design,  it  missed  its  aim ;  for  the  heart  of  Gerard, 
proof  equally  against  intimidation  and  flattery,  took  note  of  nothing 
but  the  hospitality  of  his  hosts.  Having  lighted  a  fresh  pipe,  and 
made  his  acknowledgements  to  his  entertainers,  he  took  his  way  to- 
ward the  wood-clothed  ravines,  which  seemed  at  this  hour  of  the  dusk 
to  encincture  the  country  of  Archioua  with  a  girdle  of  mourning. 

During  the  entire  night  he  explored  the  district,  but  his  search 
was  vain  j  not  a  trace  of  the  foe  he  sought  met  his  eye.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  at  the  same  hour  he  was  at  his  post,  scanning  with  eager 
look  every  ravine  and  hollow. 

In  vain  the  hyaena  and  the  jackal  bounded  howling  beneath  his  feet. 
The  panther  himself  had  been  deemed  unworthy  of  his  arms,  or  rather 
of  the  solitary  shot  it  was  in  his  power  to  discharge ;  for  by  accident 
cie  of  the  locks  of  his  musket  had  become  broken.  An  old  Eoman, 
interpreting  the  mischance  as  an  augury,  would  have  retraced  his 
steps  ;  but  Gerard  was  only  rendered  by  it  the  more  daring,  as  placing 
himself  more  on  an  equality  with  the  noble  beast.  It  will  now,  he 
said,  be  lion  matched  against  lion. 

At  length,  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  July, 
a  terrific  howling,  repeated  again  and  again  by  many-voiced  echo, 
was  heard  to  issue  from  a  neighboring  ravine.  At  the  dread  sound 
of  its  notes  all  nature  seemed  abashed  into  silence,  and  the  cattle 
crept  away,  and  him  themselves. 

Gerard  was  impatient  for  the  fray ;  his  heart  beat  high,  and  his 
breast  expanded.  He  essayed  to  tear  away  the  branches  that  sepa- 
rated him  from  the  enemy,  who  he  feared  might  yet  retreat,  and  de- 
cline *  e  combat.  Eagerly  his  eye  penetrated  the  gloom.  He  removed 
in  a  '  '  minutes  the  last  screen.  His  watchful  dog  followed  hia 
mas*  •.  a  eye,  and  suddenly  crouched  at  his  feet,  without  uttering  so 
muf  a  as  a  cry  of  terror ;  for  fear  had  paralyzed  his  voice. 

It  was  a  sublime  and  imposing  sight,  that  forest  king,  in  all  hia 
colossal  proportions,  his  shaggy  mane  floating  in  the  wind,  his  eyes 
on  fire,  and  his  mouth  reeking  with  blood.  He  had  planted  himself 
within  twenty  paces  of  Gerard,  whose  pulse  throbbed,  not  with  fear, 
but,  as  he  has  related  with  admirable  simplicity,  with  joy  at  having 


HUNTING  THE  LION.  457 


reached  the  crisis  of  his  enterprise,  and  finding  himseif  face  to  fact 
with  the  enemy  he  had  been  seeking. 

The  lion  saw  his  antagonist,  and  did  not  attempt  flight.  Man.  who 
had  so  often  fallen  before  his  midnight  depredations,  seemed  to  him 
an  easy  and  certain  prey.  He  knew  not  how  Gerard  was  armed. 

Profiting  by  the  few  seconds,  which  seemed  an  eternity,  during 
which  the  monster  stood  glaring  at  him,  Jules  schooled  himself  to 
sustain  his  flashing  looks ;  then  bringing  his  weapon  to  bear  with  a 
cautious  movement,  so  as  not  to  excite  suspicion,  he  grasped  it  with 
the  firmness  of  a  vice.  His  body  slightly  inclined  forward,  resting 

on  limbs  as  immovable  as  buttresses  of  masonry He  pauses 

a  moment  to  steady  his  aim.  If  it  fail,  the  monster  will  be  upoa 
him  before  he  can  reload.  Life  and  death  are  at  an  issue  upon  tha* 

single  shot.  Now  he  is  ready.  His  finger  presses  the  trigger 

An  explosion,  of  sweeter  melody  to  the  ear  of  our  hero  than  strains 
of  softest  music,  shows  that  the  trusty  weapon  has  not  failed.  Stricken 
between  the  eyes,  the  huge  beast  shakes  the  earth  with  a  convulsive 
bound,  and  as  the  volume  of  smoke  clears  away,  Gerard  contemplates 
his  victim  gasping  out  its  latest  breath  at  his  feet. 

As  the  news  spread  that  the  lion  was  dead,  men,  women,  and 
children  filled  the  air  with  shouts  of  joy.  The  traces  of  their  de 
spair  and  misery  passed  away.  Torches  were  burned ;  guns  were 
fired  as  the  signal  for  a  feast ;  wheaten  puddings,  light  beer,  and  bis- 
cuits circulated;  discordant  flourishes  of  native  «msic,  songs  and 
dances,  made  up  an  Arab  carnival  full  of  spirit  and  originality. 

The  entire  population  presently  poured  along  the  path  that  led  tc 
the  lion's  den — their  torches  shining  like  a  long  riband  of  flame — 
and  soon,  illumined  by  the  reflection  of  a  thousand  torches,,  the 
monster  was  seen  stretched  out  motionless  upon  the  earth. 

It  was  one  of  the  fiercest  lions  of  Atlas,  exhibiting  the  very  pe* 
fection  of  strength  and  beauty.     On  measurement,  he  was  found  t. 
be  seventeen  feet  in  length,  and  a  thick  curly  and  knotted  mau. 
veiled  half  of  his  huge  frame. 

One  instant  kept  silent  by  astonishment,  the  delirious  joy  of  the 
multitude  quickly  found  vent  in  shouts  that  rent  the  air.  A  thou 
•and  voices  joined  in  one,  like  the  voice  of  a  thousand  grains  of 


458  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


powder  uniting  in  the  report  of  a  cannon,  hailed  Gerard  as  the 
Lion-Slayer. 

Such  was  his  first  exploit  in  a  career  in  which  he  has  since  gained 
such  distinguished  renown.  The  fame  of  his  prowess  quickly  spread 
abroad,  and  innumerable  applications  were  made  to  him  for  succor 
from  districts  ravaged  by  lions.  The  natives  themselves  are  gene- 
rally too  much  terrified  to  adopt  efficient  means  of  defending 
themselves  from  the  depredations  of  these  monsters,  and  with  all 
the  extravagance  of  enthusiasm,  hailed  our  hero  as  a  saviour.  They 
wore  astonished  at  the  courage  and  self-possession  which  dared  en- 
counter these  formidable  beasts  single-handed.  Their  own  opera- 
tions, whenever  the  extremity  of  their  peril  rouses  them  to  resistance, 
invariably  take  the  shape  of  a  combined  movement  on  a  very 
extensive  scale. 

In  the  southern  district  of  the  circle  of  Constantino,  for  example, 
the  Arabs  are  accustomed  to  meet  the  lion  in  true  array  of  battle, 
only  refraining  from  the  use  of  artillery  itself,  because  they  happen 
to  be  destitute  of  that  resource. 

When  one  of  the  monarch  beasts  has  been  committing  his  depre- 
dations, the  Arabs  of  the  tribe  which  has  suffered  most  severally 
assemble  at  some  rendezvous.  The  horsemen  then  take  up  their 
position  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  where  it  is  ascertained  the  lion 
reposes  during  the  day,  whilst  those  on  foot,  uttering  loud  shouts, 
advance  in  parties  of  thirty  or  forty  to  his  retreat. 

At  the  first  war-cry,  the  lion,  if  it  is  a  young  one,  (and  a  lioness 
unless  she  have  her  young  one  with  her  will  do  the  same,)  quits  his 
lair,  to  avoid  a  combat ;  but  as  the  mountains  in  this  part  are  but 
scantily  wooded,  he  is  generally  perceived,  and  a  few  shots  are 
sufficient  to  bring  him  to  battle. 

An  adult  lion  will  lazily  arouse  himself  like  a  sluggard  awakened 
too  soon;  then,  stretching  and  rubbing  his  sides  against  the  bushes 
from  which  he  has  risen,  and  shaking  his  thick  matted  mane,  he  listens 
to  the  cries  that  reach  him,  and  angrily  scratches  the  earth  with  his 
claws.  Proceeding  slowly  to  the  nearest  point  of  rock  which  com 
manda  the  country  below,  he  looks  around  on  every  side,  and  when 
he  has  surveyed  the  scene,  awaits  the  issue. 


HUNTING  THE  LION.  459 


Immediately  an  Arab  perceives  him,  lie  exclaims,  in  a  loud  voice, 
"He  is  there;"  and  the  cry,  rising  distinctly  above  the  incoherent 
shouts  of  the  multitude,  is  at  once  understoqd  by  all.  Its  effect  ia 
instantaneous,  Every  voice  is  hushed  to  silence.  Those  to  whom 
the  lion  is  visible  involuntarily  stop  and  gaze  at  him,  and  the  more 
distant  parti3s  quickly  gather  to  the  spot. 

A  long  pause  ensues.  The  Arabs  examine  the  priming  of  their 
guns,  and  try  the  edge  of  their  yatagans,  (Turkish  swords,)  and  the 
lioc,  licks  his  paws,  and  rubs  his  face  and  maire,  as  if  performing  his 
toilette  before  the  battle.  Then  an  Arab  advances  from  the  group, 
and  addresses  the  majestic  creature  in  language  of  defiance.  He  says, 
"  Do  you  not  know  us,  since  you  thus  continue  to  stand  before  us  ? 

Get  thee  up  and  fly,  for  we  are  the  men  of  such  a  tribe,  and  I  am ," 

proclaiming  his  name.  The  lion,  who  has  made  his  meal  of  more 
than  one  native  who  had  apostrophized  him  in  the  same  valiant  terms, 
disregards  the  warning,  and  with  unruffled  dignity  proceeds  with  his 
toilette.  Another  of  his  assailants  bids  him  begone ;  and  not  show- 
ing any  disposition  to  obey,  the  ears  of  the  poor  beast  are  presently 
stunned  with  such  a  torrent  of  abuse, — in  the  midst  of  which  may  be 
heard  the  contemptuous  epithets  of  "Jew,"  "  Christian,"  "Infidel," 
&c.,  strangely  mingled, — that  enraged  at  the  annoyance,  he  springs 
to  his  feet,  and  lashing  his  sides  with  his  tail,  marches  on  to  thr 
attack.  The  combat  begins.  Blood  is  shed.  More  than  one  rock 
and  more  than  one  bush,  are  marked  by  it.  It  is  the  blood  of  the 
bravest,  who  were  the  foremost  in  the  encounter.  The  footmen, 
wounded  and  repulsed,  retreat  before  the  enemy  to  the  plain  where 
the  cavalry  have  taken  their  position.  Warned  of  the  approach  of 
the  beast,  these  hastily  prepare  for  action.  They  gallop  wildly  about, 
brandish  their  weapons  in  the  air,  and  add  to  the  confusion' by  loud 
and  discordant  shouts.  But  the  lion  watches  their  manoeuvres,  and 
maintains  his  vantage-ground.  -He  will  not  venture  out  into  the  un- 
sheltered plain.  Their  utmost  provocations  fail.  Some  one  must 
approach  him  and  fire.  There  is  a  moment  perhaps  of  hesitation, 
when  an  aged  man,  who  has  some  kindred  to  avenge,  addresses  his 
comrades,  "  Young  men,"  he  says,  "  if  any  among  you  is  afraid  of 
death,  let  him  go  back."  No  one  moves.  The  Arab  who  should 


160  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


retire  at  such  a  moment  would  be  lost  forever  in  the  estimation  of 
his  tribe. 

He  who  has  spoken  takes  some  steps  in  advance,  and,  deliberately 
taking  aim,  fires.  Perhaps  his  shot  goes  home,  and  then  the  rest  of 
the  party  rushing  in,  complete  the  slaughter  of  the  beast.  Perhapa 
he  misses  his  aim,  and  the  lion,  rightly  interpreting  the  design  of  the 
shot,  becomes  himself  the  assailant,  and  springs  forward  in  a  rage  on 
his  foes.  Now  the  panic  becomes  universal ;  there  is  an  indiscrimi- 
nate flight,  a  few  only,  perhaps,  reaching  ambush,  and  discharging 
their  weapons  from  their  hiding-places. 

If  the  enemy  succeed  in  making  a  capture  of  one  of  his  assailants 
(and  this  happens  almost  as  a  matter  of  course,)  his  deliverance  may 
generally  be  effected  by  one  of  the  horsemen  rallying,  and,  at  a  proper 
distance  firing.  The  lion  will  quit  his  prisoner  to  resent  this  new 
attack,  and  thus  give  his  terrified  prey  an  opportunity  of  escape, 
whilst  he  himself,  exhausted  in  the  fruitless  pursuit  of  horses,  to 
whom  fear  has  lent  wings,  crouches  down  and  awaits-death  upon  the 
spot.  This  is  the  critical  moment.  The  scattered  riders  rapidly  come 
up ;  an  irregular  fire  is  opened ;  the  lion  receives,  without  moving, 
numerous  balls  discharged  at  the  distance  of  eighty  or  a  hundred 
paces ;  but  if  any  one  more  venturous  approaches  much  nearer  than 
this,  the  monster  at  once  rouses  himself,  and  either  rider  is  torn  from 
his  saddle,  or  both  rider  and  horse  roll  in  the  dust,  and  perish  together. 
"  I  have  se.en  many  Arabs,"  says  Gerard,  "  who  have  been  seized  by 
lions,  and  have  escaped  at  the  commencement  of  an  affray ;  but  who- 
ever has  the  mischance  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  one  in  whose  body 
a  dozen  bullets  have  been  lodged,  is  quickly  torn  to  pieces.  You  may 
approach  him  near  enough  then  to  put  the  muzzle  of  your  musket 
in  his  ear,  and  he  will  die  before  he  will  release  his  prey." 

Gerard  was  often  questioned  a^  to  his  exploits  by  the  Arabs  amongst 
whom  he  fell,  and  to  whose  tents  his  fame  had  been  carried.  "  How 
is  it  possible,"  they  would  say,  "  that  alone,  and  in  the  darkness  of 
night,  you  have  been  able  to  slay  lions  (unless  you  are  something 
more  than  a  man,)  when  we  experience  so  much  difficulty,  and  en- 
counter so  many  perils,  in  despatching  one  on  horseback  and  in  open 
day, — even  after  we  have  wounded  him  with  eighty  balls,  and  have 


HUNTING  THE  LION.  461 


ost  many  horses  and  men  ?"  And  when  he  replied,  that  it  was  easy 
enough ;  that  he  waited  till  they  came  to  the  encounter,  and  that  if 
they  came  not  to  him  he  went  to  them ;  they  would  shake  their  heads 
and  say,  "  Ah  !  these  lions  of  Guelma  are  but  children." 

The  natives  of  Seguia  challenged  our  hero  to  give  them  a  proof  of 
his  prowess.  He  accepted  it  and  thus  related  the  sequel : — "  It  was 
the  28th  of  January.  I  was  told  there  were  several  lions  in  the  Ze- 
razcr  mountains,  about  twenty  leagues  to  the  south  of  Constantine. 
The  weather  continuing  very  unfavorable  till  the  1st  of  February,  1 
contented  myself  with  despatching  some  Arabs  to  reconnoitre  the 
different  stations  about  the  mountain,  and  occupied  my  time  with  other 
affairs.  On  the  first  of  the  month,  two  small  parties  of  natives  placed 
themselves  at  my  disposal.  I  instructed  them  to  proceed  to  the  woods 
at  an  early  hour  on  the  following  morning,  and  light  a  great  beacon, 
fire  as  soon  as  they  discovered  the  track  of  a  lion  on  his  return  towards 
the  mountain.  I  concluded  the  whole  neighborhood  would  rally 
round  the  fire.  On  the  3d,  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  I  mounted 
my  horse,  accompanied  by  two  native  sheiks,  each  taking  command 
of  a  party,  and  after  following  the  foot  of  the  mountain  towards  the 
south  for  an  hour,  perceived  a  column  of  smoke  ascending  from  a 
rock ;  it  was  the  signal  of  my  spies.  On  approaching  the  rendezvous 
I  saw  an  Arab  standing  at  the  base  of  a  declivity,  high  up  on  the 
mountain ;  and,  following  the  direction  of  his  hand,  presently  per- 
ceived abundant  signs  of  .more  than  one  lion.  They  say  that  a  sin 
confessed  is  half  expiated.  So  much  the  better,  then,  for  I  will  ac- 
knowledge my  vanity  was  gratified  at  beholding  on  one  side  of  me 
the  foot-prints  of  three  lions,  and,  on  the  other,  forty  Arabs,  armed 
to  the  teeth,  the  expectant  witnesses  of  my  valor  and  prowess. 

"  My  attendant  followed  me  silently,  as,  dismounting,  I  cautiously 
pursued  the  trail  of  the  beasts,  endeavoring  to  obtain  a  sight  of 
them.  As  I  turned  back,  I  marked  an  expression  of  sly  mischief 
on  his  face,  as  much  as  to  say,  '  There  are  three  of  them  for  you  !' 
They  are  but  young,'  I  observed,  '  not  more  than  three  years  of 
age ;  I  should  have  preferred  an  old  lion.'  He  shrugged  big 
shoulders,  and  went  away  to  relate  what  I  had  said  to  his  compa- 
nions, whom  I  presently  joined.  '  Let  two  mefl  take  our  horses, 


462  HUNTING    ADVENTURES. 


and  wait  for  us  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain/  I  said  to  one  of  the 
shieks,  '  let  the  others  attend  me  with  my  carbines,  and  do  both  of 
you  follow  me  in  silence/ 

"  When  I  had  reached  the  crest  of  the  mouatain,  I  found  amid 
the  snow  a  hollow  like  the  lair  of  wild  beasts,  stained  with  bloou, 
and  could  perceive,  from  the  traces  still  left,  that  from  this  spot  the 
lions  had  directed  their  course  towards  a  valley,  which  seemed  likelj 
enough  to  afford  them  cover.  I  directed  two  parties  to  follow  very 
quietly  the  projecting  ledge  of  rocks  which  forms,  as  it  were,  a  cor- 
nice, the  entire  length  of  the  Zerazer,  abstaining  from  any  attempt 
to  descend  the  side.  They  were  to  march  towards  the  south,  raising 
a  great  outcry,  but  without  firing  a  single  shot.  In  case  the  lions 
should  assume  the  offensive,  their  cries  were  to  cease,  and  the  senti- 
nels, who-  were  so  placed  as  to  be  witnesses  of  every  thing,  were  to 
give  the  alarm.  Satisfied,  from  sufficient  signs,  that  the  snow-plain 
where  I  had  found  the  marks  of  blood  was  the  route  usually  tra- 
versed by  the  foes  I  was  seeking,  I  disarmed  my  two  attendants  of 
their  carbines,  and  placing  them  in  a  cleft  of  the  rock,  where  they 
would  be  able  to  observe  every  thing  without  any  danger  to  them- 
selves, I  sat  down  upon  a  piece  of  stone  in  the  open  plain.  The 
wind  brought  me  the  sound  of  a  prolonged  shout,  and  I  concen- 
trated all  my  attention  upon  the  proceedings  of  the  signal-mem.  For 
about  an  hour  I  had  been  listening  to  the  cries  of  the  scouts,  when 
a  gazelle  appeared  upon  the  hill  above  me.  She  stopped  a  moment, 
and  casting  a  look  behind  her,  sprang  forward,  and  ran  towards  me 
with  the  utmost  speed.  She  passed  on  my  left,  within  fifteen  feet 
of  me,  and  a  noise  I  heard  immediately  afterwards  satisfied  me  that 
I  acted  wisely  in  not  firing  at  her.  A  lion,  separated  from  his  com- 
panions, came  direct  towards  me,  seated  as  I  was  close  by  a  bush, 
at  the  foot  of  which  lay  the  path  the  creature  followed;  I  did  not 
move,  hoping  to  be  able  to  fire  upon  him  at  a  distance  of  ten  feet, 
and  intending  to  aim  at  him  between  the  eyes. 

"For  a  moment  he  disappeared,  hidden  by  the  windings  of  the 
path  amongst  the  bushes.  My  gun  at  my  shoulder,  my  finger  upon 
the  trigger,  T  waited  with  impatience  for  his  re-appearance,  when  an 
acclamation,  uttered  by  the  Arabs  who  were  concealed  behind-  ne, 


HUNTING  THE  LION.  463 


made  me  aware  that  the  lion  had  turned  to  the  right,  under  the  shade 
cf  the  wood.  Getting  on  my  feet,  I  saw  him  stationed  on  the  very 
rock  which  served  as  a  shelter  to  my  men.  A  ball  from  my  gun 
lodged  in  his  shoulder,  and,  as  he  rose,  a  second  followed  the  first. 
Smarting  from  his  two  wounds,  he  uttered  a  howl  which  made  the 
two  prisoners  in  the  rock  almost  die  with  fright,  and  then  bounded 
towards  a  precipice  almost  fifty  feet  in  height. 

"  He  fell  heavily  amidst  a  mass  of  stones  and  brambles  among  which 
his  last  convulsions  of  agony  were  spent.  At  the  same  moment  one 
of  my  exploring  parties  appeared  on  the  heights  from  which  the  lion 
had  descended.  They  had  heard  my  firing.  I  had  the  greatest  diffi- 
culty in  the  world  to  prevent  their  going  down  to  the  foot  of  the  rock 
which  my  prey  had  overleaped.  Fearful  lest  he  should  not  be  yet 
quite  dead,  I  persisted  in  going  alone. 

"  Scarcely  had  I  reloaded  my  carbine,  when  the  videttes  began 
shouting  with  all  their  might.  Two  lions  were  visible.  There  waa 
no  time  to  looe.  Satisfied  that  I  should  find  my  first  victim  dead, 
I  followed  the  natives,  who,  no  longer  doubting  my  intrepidity,  had 
taken  the  advance,  leaping  from  rock  to  rock  like  the  chamois.  The 
lions,  however,  had  disappeared,  and  were  invisible  for  the  rest  of 
that  day. 

"  On  the  4th,  at  mid-day,  I  took  up  the  same  position  as  before, 
and  about  three  hours  afterwards  a  lioness  approached  by  the  same 
path  as  the  lion  I  had  slain.  I  planted  myself  on  the  top  of  the 
rock,  and  sat  down  till  she  came  within  range  of  my  gun.  Hitherto 
she  had  not  seen  me,  but  as  soon  as  I  rose  she  stopped,  looked 
about  her  with  an  air  of  disquietude,  and  crouching  down  in  the 
same  way  as  a  cat  does,  showed  me  her  magnificent  teeth.  What 
weapons  they  were  !  She  was  about  thirty  feet  distant.  I  levelled 
my  gun.  As  I  fired,  she  darted  up  like  a  serpent,  turning  her  head 
from  the  side  where  she  had  been  struck ;  then,  collecting  all  her 
remaining  strength,  she  bounded  forward  about  ten  feet,  and  fell, 
receiving  a  second  shot  in  the  back  of  the  neck.  The  Arabs,  attracted 
by  the  double  discharge,  came  to  me  one  by  one  to  make  me  tha 
1  amende  honorable/  and  kiss  the  hand  that  had  given  them  a  lesson 
they  said  they  should  never  forget." 


4.t>4  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


The  lion  was  sent  as  a  trophy  to  Constantino.  The  following  day 
they  found  the  one  previously  slain  He  lay  dead  at  the  foot  of  the 
•ock  where  he  had  fallen. 

The  following  episode  can  be  best  related  in  the  adventurer's 
own  words  :  "  On  the  night  of  the  2d  of  January,"  he  says,  "  I  mor- 
tally wounded  a  lion  with  three  slugs  in  the  shoulder,  whose  dismal 
bowlings  I  had  followed  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  camp  of  Mezez- 
Amar.  After  making  a  preliminary  examination,  I  returned  to  the 
camp,  and  on  the  following  day,  at  break  of  dawn,  followed  by  a 
cavalry-man  and  the  Sheik  Mustapha,  returned  upon  the  track  of 
the  beast.  After  following  the  trail  of  his  blood  for  the  course  of 
half  an  hour,  we  discovered  him,  still  living,  in  the  midst  of  a 
thicket,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  Bon  Hemdem,  a  quarter  of  a 
league  to  the  west  of  Mezez-Amar.  He  proclaimed  his  presence  to 
us  by  his  groans.  As  the  wood  in  which  he  had  taken  refuge  was 
almost  impenetrable,  I  placed  Rostain  (the  cavalry-man)  and  seven 
or  eight  Arabs,  who  had  joined  our  party,  at  the  outskirts  of  the  wood 
'and  proceeded  myself  to  descend  the  ravine,  directing  them  when 
they  saw  me  at  the  bottom,  about  fifty  feet  distant  from  them,  to  throw 
stones.  The  lion  I  thought,  mortally  wounded  would  come  down 
to  me  as  soon  as  he  was  disturbed  by  the  noise  of  the  stones  above. 
But  for  some  time  he  did  not  stir,  though  the  stones  literally  rained 
down  upon  his  sides. 

"  I  made  a  sign,  therefore,  to  Rostain  to  cease  throwing,  and  as 
soon  as  he  did  so,  the  lion,  not  hearing  the  noise  any  longer,  rose, 
and  slowly  came  out,  as  if  to  listen.  By  a  gesture  of  my  hand  I 
prevented  Rostain  from  attacking  him,  when  the  Shiek  Mustapha'a 
dogs,  finding  themselves  face,  to  face  with  the  beast,  suddenly  took 
flight,  bounding  over  the  brushwood  by  Rostain  and  the  Arabs. 
These  immediately  turned  tail ;  and  the  lion  seeing  Rostain  nearer 
to  him  than  the  rest  of  the  party,  attacked  him ;  now  leaping  for 
ward,  and  now  rolling  for  some  feet,  but  quickly  recovering  him- 
self, and  starting  off"  again  with  a  howl  in  pursuit,  when  he  received 
a  ball,  which  would  have  saved  my  man,  but  for  the  mishap  of  a 
false  step  and  a  fall.  The  lion  seized  him  at  the  instant  he  was  re« 
covering  himself,  and  i  oiled  over  and  over,  holding  the  unfortunate 


HUNTING  THE  LION.  465 


lorseman  in  his  teeth,  whilst  he  savagely  tore  his  sides  with  his  claws. 
When  he  had  got  over  a  few  feet  in  this  way,  the  animal  abandoned 
his  victim,  and  tried  with  difficulty  to  make  his  way  towards  the  foot 
•of  the  ravine.  As  soon  %s  I  saw  Kostain  fall,  feeling  that  the  lion 
would  inevitably  seize  him,  1  had  hastened,  as  well  as  the  nature  of 
the  ground  and  the  brambles  that  covered  it  would  permit,  to  fly  to 
his  assistance,  but  I  arrived  too  late.  The  lion  had  disappeared,  and 
I  could  do  nothing  but  attend  to  the  severe  wounds  of  my  poor 
comrade. 

"  The  next  day  I  went  back  to  the  wood,  accompanied  by  a  party 
of  thirty  Arabs.  We  found  the  trail  of  the  lion,  and  followed  the 
marks  of  his  blood.  He  had  betaken  himself  to  a  thicket  forming 
almost  an  islet,  and  separated  by  the  river  Bon  Hemdem  from  the 
plain  which  the  Arabs  call  Elbaz.  In  spite  of  our  shouts,  and  the 
stones  we  threw  plentifully,  he  did  not  stir.  One  of  the  natives 
caught  a  glimpse  of  him  as  he  lay  counohed  up  in  the  midst  of  an 
enormous  mastic-tree.  He  fired,  but  missed  his  aim.  The  lion 
sprang  at  him,  but  his  strength  was  spent,  and  the  Arab  escaped. 
Another  of  the  party,  finding  himself  face  to  face  with  the  animal, 
levelled  his  gun;  the  lion  sat  down  and  waited;  the  Arab,  in  a  mo- 
ment of  panic,  turned  his  head  aside  to  see  that  his  companions  had 
not  left  him ;  the  lion  saw  his  opportunity,  and  made  a  spring ;  with 
one  claw  of  his  heavy  paw  he  laid  open  the  cheek  of  his  victim,  tore 
the  butt-end  of  his  musket  from  the  barrel  and  from  his  grasp,  and 
seizing  him  by  the  loins,  hurled  him  against  a  tree  some  ten  feet  dis- 
tant. Encountering  a  third  native  armed  with  a  musket  and  bayo- 
net, he  struck  him  down  with  a  blow  of  his  tail,  and  then  presented 
himself  on  the  bank  of  the  river  in  face  of  the  little  ford  occupied  by 
the  rest  of  the  men.  These  took  to  flight,  and  the  lion  escaped  without 
further  molestation.  I  was  starting  off  in  pursuit  of  him,  when  the 
Sheik  Mustapha  came  to  tell  me  that  the  litter  for  carrying  the  wounded 
Rostain  had  arrived  from  Mezez-Arnar.  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  at- 
tend him  to  the  camp,  arid  thence  to  Guelma,  where  I  saw  him  re- 
ceived into  the  hospital.  On  the  morrow  I  returned  to  the  spot,  and 
for  six  days  caused  the  wood  to  be  watched,  to  assure  myself  that  tha 
li-m  did  not  come  )ut  either  to  eat  or  drink,  and  at  the  end  of  that 

30 


4C6  HUNTING  ADVENTURES. 


time  the  vultures  began  to  gather,  a  sufficient  sign  that  my  prey  h*l 
died  in  some  thicket." 

Since  the  death  of  the  black  lion  of  Archioua,  his  consort  having 
retreated  from  the  neighborhood,  it  was  for  a  time  free  from  depre- 
dations. But  in  the  course  of  some  months  this  lioness  returned, 
accompanied  by  a  yellow  lion  and  two  young  ones  of  about  eighteen 
months  old.  Cattle  now  began  to  disappear  again  every  day  and  oc- 
casionally horses,  killed  by  the  dam  to  feed  her  offspring.  After 
many  complaints  on  the  part  of  the  peasants,  Gerard  established  hia 
quarters  in  the  vicinity,  and  on  the  3rd  of  December,  1846,  intelli- 
gence was  brought  him  that  the  lion  had  just  wounded  a  man  and 
killed  a  horse.  He  at  once  accompanied  the  messenger  to  the  spot 
where  the  animal  had  been  strangled.  On  the  borders  of  a  wood  near, 
be  found  a  pool  of  blood,  and  from  that  place,  through  a  thicket  of 
oaastic  of  wild  olive-trees,  traced  the  course  along  which  the  lioness 
aad  dragged  the  horse  to  the  foot  of  a  ravine,  a  distance  of  six  hun- 
dred feet.  The  poor  beast  was  lying  on  the  ground  still  whole,  and 
with  no  other  wounds  than  the  bites  of  two  huge  teeth  in  his  throat. 
Gerard  crept  behind  a  tree  about  four  feet  from  the  carcass  and  waited 
the  result. 

The  entire  night  passed  without  the  appearance  of  anything.  But 
about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  next  day  the  approach  of  the 
lioness  was  announced  by  the  affrighted  cries  of  birds,  and  the  flight 
of  two  raccoons  who  were  roaming  near  the  horse.  The  ravine  being 
very  narrow,  and  every  where  well  wooded,  he  could  not  perceive  the 
lioness  until  she  had  come  up. to  her  prey.  Her  two  young  followed 
her  at  a  short  distance.  One  of  them  advancing  towards  the  horse, 
the  dam  turned  upon  it,  and  frightening  it  away,  drove  it  back  to  the 
thicket.  "  She  had  distinguished  me,"  says  Gerard,  "  in  my  hiding 
place.  Stealthily  she  made  a  circuit  around  me,  now  hiding  herself 
from  my  sight,  now  showing  her  h  jad  above  a  bramble,  as  she  looked 
to  see  that  I  was  still  there.  Suddenly  she  seemed  to  have  entirely 
disappeared. 

"  I  almost  believed  she  had  done  so,  when  happening  to  cast  my 
eyes  to  my  right,  I  saw  her  extended  like  a  serpent,  her  head  resting 
upon  her  two  paws,  her  eyes  fixed  upon  mine,  her  tail  swaying  slowly 


HUNTING  THE  LION. 


467 


like  a  pendulum,  in  the  air.  I  felt  that  I  had  not  a  moment  to  spare> 
I  took  my  aim  at  her  forehead ;  she  bounded  five  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  fell,  uttering  a  horrid  howl.  She  was  dead.  The  aim  had  been 
true,  and  the  shot  pierced  her  brain  The  young  lions  having  fled 
at  the  sound  of  the  musket,  I  waited  till  four  o'clock  in  the  morning 
without  their  re-appearing.  At  length  the  extreme  cold  compelled 
me  to  return,  and  when  I  came  afterwards  to  take  possession  of  my 
lioness,  I  was  accompanied  by  more  than  two  hundred  Arabs,  who 
manifested  the  highest  joy  at  my  success;  for  amongst  all  I  had 
killed  to  this  time,  not  one  had  committed  so  many  ravages  in  so  short 
a  time." 

Gerard  continues  to  distinguish  himself  in  adventures  similar  to 
those  we  have  related.  His  services  are  in  general  request,  and  ho 
is  known  amongst  all  the  natives  of  Algeria  by  the  name  conferred 
on  him  by  acclamation,  by  the  people  of  Archioua, — The  Lion-Slayer 


24293 


A     ''•iHiiiiiiii  ilium/I  linn  in 


